In brief
On January 10, 2026, a memorial service in Crans-Montana marked a national day of mourning for the victims of a tragic fire that claimed 40 lives on New Year’s Eve. The ceremony gathered families of the deceased and survivors, calling for accountability amid ongoing investigations into safety violations linked to the bar 'Le Constellation.' The emotional aftermath has raised numerous questions among the residents and victims' families regarding the fire's causes and the handling of safety regulations by local authorities.
Tragedy brought people together in Crans-Montana and brought the country to a standstill.
On Friday, just down the road from the bar where 40 young people were killed by fire on New Year's Eve, church bells rang in their memory.
They tolled right across Switzerland, to mark a national day of mourning.
Then, moments after the last notes of a special memorial service had faded, came the news that one of the bar's owners had been detained.
Swiss prosecutors said Jacques Moretti, a French national, was a potential flight risk. He and his wife Jessica, who is also French, are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.
Many of the victims' families had demanded action like this from the start: more than a week after the fire, the anger in this community has been increasing.
At the main ceremony in Martigny, down in the valley, relatives of the dead were joined by survivors. Some had come from hospital for the memorial. People held white roses in their laps and gripped each other's hands for support.
Marie, a young woman who had witnessed the horrifying events, shared, 'The images we faced were unbearable. A scene worse than a nightmare. Screams ringing out in the icy cold, the smell of burning. It was apocalyptic.'
Listening in the front row were the presidents of France and Italy, whose citizens were among those killed and injured in the fire. Both countries have opened their own investigations.
Back in Rome, Italy's prime minister vowed to make sure all those responsible were identified. 'This was no accident. It was the result of too many people who did not do their jobs,' Giorgia Meloni stated.
People in Crans-Montana are left with the same questions: Why wasn't the music cut when the fire started? Why wasn’t there an immediate evacuation order?
The only two formal suspects currently are the co-owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti. Jacques has been remanded in custody while investigations continue.
After nine days, Le Constellation remains covered as inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire develop. Initial findings suggest negligence and safety violations may have contributed to the catastrophe.
As survivors deal with the haunting memories of the event, the community rallies to support each other while questioning the local officials' roles in ensuring public safety in establishments like Le Constellation.
Community tributes continue to grow, underscoring a shared commitment to remembering the lost lives and seeking answers in the wake of this tragedy.
