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yesterday

Switzerland Holds National Day of Mourning After Crans-Montana Bar Fire as Probe Intensifies

Prosecutors will question the venue’s owners over alleged negligence following revelations of a years-long inspection lapse.

Screenshot comparison of the false Douyin post (L) and the longer Instagram post
A coffin of Arthur Brodard, a victim of the fire that broke out during a New Year's Eve party at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, is carried to the Temple de Lutry for his funeral in Lutry, in southwestern Switzerland, January 8, 2026. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Half of the victims were under 18
Questions over the bar's safety standards have grown as Switzerland mourns the tragedy

Overview

  • The nation will observe a minute of silence at 2:00 pm with a memorial in Martigny attended by Swiss, French and Italian leaders; the fire killed 40 and injured 116, with half of the dead under 18, and 83 people remain hospitalized.
  • Investigators’ working hypothesis is that champagne sparklers ignited soundproofing foam on a low ceiling, causing a rapid flashover in the basement bar.
  • Municipal officials acknowledged no mandatory safety inspections since 2019, ordered an external audit of public venues, and banned indoor sparklers and similar pyrotechnic devices.
  • Owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti face inquiries for manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence, and have been called in for questioning while remaining free.
  • A widely shared clip purported to show the Swiss blaze was verified as unrelated and traced to a December 22 restaurant fire in Bali, according to AFP and local authorities.