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Switzerland Marks National Day of Mourning as Prosecutors Question Crans‑Montana Bar Owners

The probe centers on suspected sparkler ignition at a bar that went unchecked for fire safety since 2019.

Overview

  • Church bells will ring at 14:00 with a nationwide minute of silence, and a memorial in Valais is set to host more than 1,000 guests including Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Sergio Mattarella.
  • Swiss prosecutors are set to question Jacques and Jessica Moretti in Sion on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson after the pair pledged full cooperation.
  • The blaze left 40 dead and 116 injured, with survivors receiving care in specialized burn centers across Europe and donor skin delivered to Zurich hospitals and Leipzig to support treatment.
  • Investigators say party fountains on champagne bottles likely ignited foam on a low ceiling, and they are assessing whether the materials complied with safety rules.
  • Local officials acknowledged the bar received no municipal fire-safety inspections since 2019, intensifying scrutiny of oversight and triggering warnings to vet private fundraising and commercial offers tied to the disaster.