A tragic incident at a Swiss ski resort involving a bar fire has resulted in another casualty, raising the death toll to 41. An 18-year-old individual succumbed to injuries sustained in the Alpine bar fire at a Zurich hospital on Saturday. The Swiss public prosecutor confirmed the sad news but refrained from providing further details on the ongoing investigation.
Initial reports indicated that the fire was triggered by sparkling candles on Champagne bottles igniting foam on the bar’s ceiling at the crowded Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. The blaze erupted shortly after midnight on January 1, causing chaos as revelers tried to escape to safety.
Authorities are now looking into whether the ceiling’s soundproofing material met safety regulations and if the use of sparkler candles in the bar was authorized. The bar had last undergone a fire safety inspection in 2019.
The owners of the bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, both French nationals, are facing a criminal probe by Swiss authorities. They are suspected of negligence leading to death, bodily harm, and causing the fire unintentionally. Jacques Moretti was initially placed in pre-trial detention for three months but was later released on bail on January 23.
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