Three days after a tragic incident abruptly ended the lively New Year celebrations in Crans-Montana, the town observed a somber silence this morning. More than 2,000 mourners, including relatives of the fire victims, participated in a quiet march through the Swiss ski-resort town. The procession led to the site of the Le Constellation bar fire, where a growing memorial of flowers and candles adorned the area.
Both young and old attendees gathered after a special mass at a nearby church, where Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey became emotional during the service. The mass commenced at 9 am UK time in the packed St Christophe Chapel, with additional spectators outside watching via a large screen and loudspeakers in the cold minus eight temperature.
Following the silent march, mourners paid homage to the deceased outside the bar, engaging in another vigil that featured a moving performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” by a female vocalist. They also signed a book of condolences placed next to the shrine.
During the one-hour service, tributes were paid to the victims, and a church choir and soloists performed while mourners, including survivors, comforted each other and shed tears openly. The service, conducted in French, German, and Italian, highlighted the distressing uncertainty faced by families awaiting news of their missing loved ones.
The tragic scenes unfolded as families anxiously awaited the identification of the victims by the police. The disaster, which claimed lives as young as 14 years old, was triggered by a party sparkler igniting the ceiling at 1:30 am on New Year’s Day. Among those feared dead are teenagers including Charlotte Niddam, 15, and sisters Diana and Alicia Gonset, aged 14 and 15.
Police confirmed the identification of 24 victims by Sunday morning, including individuals of various nationalities and ages. Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the bar owners, are under investigation for suspected negligence leading to the tragic incident, sparking concerns about safety protocols inside the establishment.
Criticism has been directed at the couple for alleged safety lapses within the bar, prompting questions about the enforcement of safety regulations by local authorities. Mayor Nicolas Féraud has defended the municipality’s actions, asserting that all relevant reports concerning Le Constellation have been provided to the public prosecutor’s office.
