Switzerland - 40 dead and 116 injured in fire in bar in Crans-Montana, Swiss ski resort, 1 January 2026

[Harchmare]

I wonder if investigators will find other recent crimes while investigating moretti, such as corruption, bribery and money laundering.

I wouldn’t be surprised…

 

[Harchmare]

Has anyone read their replies to negative reviews of their bar/restaurant posted online? I find them quite telling…

 

[Harchmare]

Crans-Montana, oggi l’interrogatorio dei titolari del Constellation Jacques e Jessica Moretti

Jessica Moretti in lacrime: “Una tragedia inimmaginabile, mi scuso con le vittime”. La donna non è in carcere perché ha un figlio di dieci mesi: le hanno appli…

www.repubblica.it

Electronic tag for Jessica Moretti

 

[detective.moon]

Jessica Moretti: "Ich denke immer an die Opfer" - News-Clip - Play SRF

APP Entschuldigung Betreiberin

www.srf.ch

(video of jessica apologising this morning)

Bar owner Jessica Moretti apologized while sobbing. “This is an unimaginable tragedy. Never, truly never in our lives could we have imagined that this would happen in our establishment, and I would like to apologize,” said Jessica Moretti to the media after being questioned by the public prosecutor's office in Sion.

Moretti said that her thoughts are constantly with the victims and those who are struggling with the consequences of the disaster.

 

[Herat]

Crans-Montana, oggi l’interrogatorio dei titolari del Constellation Jacques e Jessica Moretti

Jessica Moretti in lacrime: “Una tragedia inimmaginabile, mi scuso con le vittime”. La donna non è in carcere perché ha un figlio di dieci mesi: le hanno appli…

www.repubblica.it

Electronic tag for Jessica Moretti

Critical to get their passports and prevent them from leaving Switzerland or the EU.

 

[Herat]

I don't know if this is the correct actual wording or a bad translation, but the Moretti's are described as "managers" in this official statement quote, whereas they are the owners. They could also be considered managers, but the bar would also likely have a hired person who was a manager to oversee the operations.

From the Chronicle Live article:

"Following the initial investigations, conducted under the direction of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of
Valais, a criminal investigation was opened last night against the two bar managers.

"They are charged with manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence."

 

[Dotta]

" 'An incomprehensible nightmare’: ​

grief turns to anger over Swiss bar fire as Le Constellation owner arrested.​

The investigation is focusing on
- renovations made to the bar,
- the fire-extinguishing systems
- and escape routes,
- as well as the number of people in the building when the fire started.

Lawyers representing the families of those who died or were injured in the tragedy
have accused investigators
of not moving quickly enough to secure crucial evidence.

As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze,
lawyers with the Geneva-based firm Merkt, claimed
that the bar’s owners appeared to have deactivated its Instagram and Facebook accounts,
in the process 'deleting pictures and videos that could have been useful to the investigation'.

'The authorities are only now starting to take the full measure of the investigation'.

'The whole world is looking at us
because, if it can happen in Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world, where could it not happen?
What led to this tragedy
and how can we make sure that that it never happens anywhere else?'

Authorities are already taking heed.

As thousands of bars, restaurants and nightspots were checked in Crans-Montana and surrounding towns,
new safety measures were announced in Vaud canton."

‘An incomprehensible nightmare’: grief turns to anger over Swiss bar fire as Le Constellation owner arrested

Jacques Moretti arrested on Friday as lawyers representing families of victims say investigators are not moving fast enough

www.theguardian.com

 

[Herat]

" 'An incomprehensible nightmare’: ​

grief turns to anger over Swiss bar fire as Le Constellation owner arrested.​

The investigation is focusing on
- renovations made to the bar,
- the fire-extinguishing systems
- and escape routes,
- as well as the number of people in the building when the fire started.

Lawyers representing the families of those who died or were injured in the tragedy
have accused investigators
of not moving quickly enough to secure crucial evidence.

As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze,
lawyers with the Geneva-based firm Merkt, claimed
that the bar’s owners appeared to have deactivated its Instagram and Facebook accounts,
in the process 'deleting pictures and videos that could have been useful to the investigation'.
'The authorities are only now starting to take the full measure of the investigation'.

'The whole world is looking at us
because, if it can happen in Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world, where could it not happen?
What led to this tragedy and how can we make sure that that it never happens anywhere else?'

Authorities are already taking heed.
As thousands of bars, restaurants and nightspots were checked in Crans-Montana and surrounding towns,
new safety measures were announced in Vaud canton."

‘An incomprehensible nightmare’: grief turns to anger over Swiss bar fire as Le Constellation owner arrested

Jacques Moretti arrested on Friday as lawyers representing families of victims say investigators are not moving fast enough

www.theguardian.com

The light is now shown on the lax attitude of at least one canton of Switzerland in terms of health and safety requirements for establishments selling alcohol.

The Swiss can claim to be a rich nation, but there seems to be an arrogance to their disconnect from contemporary health and safety standards and their enforcement.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

For Pete's sake, ban those sparklers indoors. The bars and restaurants will find a different way to help people celebrate.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009705969538805871

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009675283859710181

 

[Herat]

For Pete's sake, ban those sparklers indoors. The bars and restaurants will find a different way to help people celebrate.

And institute strict safety criteria for stairways and access routes to bars, emergency exit signs and functional doors, emergency lighting, fire alarms, and ban flammable materials on ceilings and walls.

 

[Dotta]

And institute strict safety criteria for stairways and access routes to bars, emergency exit signs and functional doors, emergency lighting, fire alarms, and ban flammable materials on ceilings and walls.

And guess what?

They don't even have to "invent a wheel".



These strict criteria are functioning in civilized countries.

 

[Harchmare]

I don't know if this is the correct actual wording or a bad translation, but the Moretti's are described as "managers" in this official statement quote, whereas they are the owners. They could also be considered managers, but the bar would also likely have a hired person who was a manager to oversee the operations.

From the Chronicle Live article:

"Following the initial investigations, conducted under the direction of the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of
Valais, a criminal investigation was opened last night against the two bar managers.

"They are charged with manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence."

It’s confusing because in French media, they’re sometimes called “gérants”, which translates as managers, so it’s the right translation for the wrong word. Actually they’re the owners, but also actively involved in the day to day running, it would appear.

 

[Herat]

It’s confusing because in French media, they’re sometimes called “gérants”, which translates as managers, so it’s the right translation for the wrong word. Actually they’re the owners, but also actively involved in the day to day running, it would appear.

I mention this only because in the US, the distinction between owner and manager would likely have different legal consequences. The "owner" being the captain of the ship, so to speak, and ultimately responsible for all policies, procedures, and the compliance with laws about employees, health and safety. A "manager" might have some legal liability too, but the owners would be the ones that most US courts would find liable for the event.

I would think with two other businesses in town, both of them restaurants, they might have had a hired manager for the Le Constellation business.

I wonder how many of their employees were injured or perished in the fire. They are victims, too.

 

[Harchmare]

I mention this only because in the US, the distinction between owner and manager would likely have different legal consequences. The "owner" being the captain of the ship, so to speak, and ultimately responsible for all policies, procedures, and the compliance with laws about employees, health and safety. A "manager" might have some legal liability too, but the owners would be the ones that most US courts would find liable for the event.

I would think with two other businesses in town, both of them restaurants, they might have had a hired manager for the Le Constellation business.

I wonder how many of their employees were injured or perished in the fire.

Good point, that’s very likely to be the case here.

From what I’ve read, at least 2 employees have died (DJ and bouncer), possibly 3 (a waitress, but some say she was there as a guest, so it’s confusing), and at least one is injured (the bar manager). The bar manager’s father said in an interview they hadn’t even called to ask how he was, so he was quite upset…

“Papa je rentre, il n’y a rien qui va”: les terribles inquiétudes d’un chef de bar du Constellation juste avant le drame

Gaëtan, âgé de 28 ans et “chef de bar” au Constellation, a été grièvement blessé dans l’incendie du bar de Crans-Montana, en Suisse, qui a fait quarante morts pendant la nuit du Nouvel An. Interrogé par BFMTV, le père du jeune homme affirme qu’il lui avait récemment exprimé son inquiétude sur...

www.7sur7.be

 

[detective.moon]

The bar manager’s father said in an interview they hadn’t even called to ask how he was, so he was quite upset…

rsbm

they did mention this in their statement, but their employees might not be aware not to defend them or anything, i just remembered they had actually adressed this

We would also like to express our unconditional solidarity with all our employees who have been severely affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with them, as the ongoing legal proceedings currently prevent us from contacting them personally.

 

[Harchmare]

rsbm

they did mention this in their statement, but their employees might not be aware not to defend them or anything, i just remembered they had actually adressed this

Ah thanks, I hadn’t read that one. The father probably hadn’t seen it at the time of the interview, or perhaps he would have liked something more personal.

 

[Herat]

Ah thanks, I hadn’t read that one. The father probably hadn’t seen it at the time of the interview, or perhaps he would have liked something more personal.

I can very much see how a personal message of support and concern from the Moretti's would be appropriate. I think if my relative worked for me and was killed or injured as badly as described, I would be very concerned and it would be sincere.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009781445624033318

 

[Herat]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009781445624033318

Some very interesting comments about their finances in that DM posting.