In brief
The tragic fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve resulted in 40 fatalities and over 116 injuries. As a result, the Swiss cantons of Valais and Geneva have moved to ban pyrotechnic devices in indoor public venues. An initial deposit of 10,000 francs will be given to each victim's family, as investigations reveal safety violations at the bar.
The Swiss canton of Valais has banned pyrotechnic devices in all indoor public venues following the devastating fire at a bar on New Year's Eve where 40 people were killed and 116 were injured.
Authorities said each of the victims would get a 10,000 franc ($12,500; £9,200) emergency payment, with a fund being set up to collect donations.
The canton of Geneva also announced a ban on pyrotechnics in indoor venues - days after Vaud became the first of Switzerland's 26 regions to take such a decision.
The blaze at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana is believed to have started when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited sound-insulating foam padding on the ceiling.
Authorities have acknowledged that the bar had not undergone safety checks for five years.
The two co-owners of Le Constellation, French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti, have been accused of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Jacques Moretti is currently in custody, while his wife is reporting daily to police.
The revelation that the bar had not been inspected for five years has shocked families of the victims, for many of whom were young; notably, eight were under the age of 16. Many of those injured are suffering from severe burns, with 80 remaining hospitalized in Switzerland and other European countries.
An online platform has been launched to receive testimonies related to the disaster, aimed at aiding the investigation. Families are seeking justice and acknowledgment of the risks that led to this tragedy.
Among the deceased was 24-year-old waitress Cyane Panine, who followed her employer's instructions by holding a champagne bottle with a sparkler. Her family asserts that she should not be held responsible for the tragic incident.
