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Valais Opens Criminal Probe Into Crans-Montana Club Fire That Killed at Least 40

Prosecutors have opened a criminal inquiry into whether the club’s 2015 renovation met fire-safety rules.

Overview

  • Investigators are examining the venue’s building history, technical approvals, materials used and the enforcement of safety measures on the night.
  • Eyewitnesses reported sparklers on champagne bottles under a low ceiling, saying the room was in full fire within about two minutes with a single narrow stairway as the only exit from the basement.
  • Owners Jessica and Jacques Moretti had run Le Constellation since 2015 alongside other local restaurants, with Jessica present and lightly burned while Jacques was not on site.
  • Local reports say several employees are among the dead, and the operators say they are in shock after losing members of their team.
  • Regional outlets report more than 100 injured and circulate images said to show the ceiling catching after sparklers were used, though officials have not confirmed the precise cause.