The safety of the "Le Constellation" bar is under scrutiny following the New Year's Eve massacre in Crans-Montana , which left dozens of young people dead (Swiss authorities say 40 people have been recovered ) and 119 injured, most of them "very seriously." The bar's owners—French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti—are being investigated for negligent homicide, negligent causing bodily harm, and negligent arson.
The first four victims identified are Swiss youths, as reported by the Valais cantonal police. They are two girls aged 21 and 16, and two boys aged 18 and 16. Their bodies, it is noted, have already been returned to their families.
The restaurant's owner, Jacques Moretti, told the German-language Swiss online newspaper '20 Minuten' that he and his wife, who was injured in the fire, "can no longer eat or sleep." "We can neither sleep nor eat; we are all in terrible conditions," Moretti said, promising full cooperation. He also reiterated that the restaurant had been "inspected three times" in the last ten years and that "everything was done according to regulations." But initial testimonies and videos filmed on New Year's Eve seem to prove the opposite.
The fire broke out in the basement after sparks from the light fountains inserted into the necks of champagne bottles , held too high by someone during the celebrations, reached the sound-absorbing foam covering the low wooden ceiling. As seen in videos released online immediately after the tragedy, the foam immediately caught fire, demonstrating that it was not fireproof, as it should have been. "The investigation will determine, to the best of its ability, whether this foam is compliant and whether it was installed correctly," assures Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud.
It also remains unclear whether there was a fire extinguisher system and, if so, why it didn't work; whether there were fire extinguishers (which no one has mentioned) ; and how many and where the emergency exits were , and why, if so, they were blocked. "They told us there were other exits, but they were all blocked by the flames," the Italian ambassador said. Stéphane Ganzer, head of the canton's security department, confirmed: "They were there, but you have to imagine that a widespread fire would prevent people from seeing, moving, and finding the exit."
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who flew to Crans-Montana, met with some relatives of the missing and injured children . Thirteen Italians were injured, seven of whom have already been brought to Italy, while six remain missing. This morning, Lombardy's Welfare Councilor Guido Bertolaso spoke of "two injured Italians in Zurich who have not yet been identified."
(Unioneonline/vl)