Swiss prosecutors are probing two nightclub managers after a deadly New Year’s Eve blaze left at least 40 people dead and 119 injured in the Swiss Alps.
Authorities, who have also started to identify victims, confirmed Saturday that the two unidentified bar managers are under investigation for suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence, The Independent reported.
The probe comes days after flames tore through the Le Constellation bar around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday during a packed holiday celebration in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana.
Hospitals across Switzerland and neighboring countries were pushed to capacity as dozens of severely burned victims were rushed for specialized care.
Swiss authorities also identified the first victims of the horrific fire, confirming teenagers were among those killed as families pleaded for answers. Names were not publicly released.
Police said the four victims were two Swiss girls, ages 16 and 21, and two Swiss boys, ages 16 and 18.
Investigators said 119 people were injured when flames engulfed the basement venue shortly after midnight, after sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited the low ceiling.
Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old Italian golf star, is so far the only victim to be publicly named.
His death was confirmed Friday in an Instagram post by the Italian Golf Federation, which paid tribute to the young golfer after the tragedy.
Authorities said the identification process has been slowed by the severity of the burns, forcing investigators to rely on DNA and dental records. AFP via Getty Images
“The Italian Golf Federation mourns the passing of Emanuele Galeppini, a young athlete who carried passion and authentic values with him,” the post reads.
Survivors have said the crowded club quickly descended into chaos as flames spread, with panicked revelers smashing windows to escape and others trapped at a narrow exit.
People inside were burning as they tried to flee, with some describing the scene as “like a horror movie,” witnesses told ABC News and Sky News.
Emanuele Galeppini, a 17-year-old Italian golfer, is the only victim to have been publicly named so far, with sports officials confirming his death as families await further identifications. @emanuele.galeppini/Instagram
Officials warned the identification process remains slow due to the severity of the burns, forcing authorities to rely on DNA samples and dental records.
The bodies of the four identified victims have been returned to their families, but their names have not yet been released.
Relatives of the missing have begun speaking publicly about being left in the dark with no updates as the agonizing wait continues.
Families of the missing said they waited days without updates, describing an agonizing limbo as officials worked through the painstaking identification process. Getty Images
“I’m living a nightmare, a nightmare,” Laetitia Brodard-Sitre told local newspaper Le Temps as she searched hospitals for her 16-year-old son, Arthur.
“Either I find my son in the morgue, or I find him in critical condition. It’s terrible,” she added.
Others said hope was all they had left.
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“We always hope — we are full of hope,” Pierre, the grandfather of missing 22-year-old Emilie Pralong, told BFMTV. “It helps to overcome whatever the hardship.”
Authorities said 113 of the injured have now been identified, including 71 Swiss nationals, 14 French and 11 Italians, along with citizens of Serbia, Bosnia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland.
The nationalities of 14 injured people remain unclear.
Club owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti have acknowledged the tragedy publicly as prosecutors continue investigating whether safety failures played a role in the deadly New Year’s Eve fire. Jessica Moretti LinkedIn
Hospitals across the region were quickly overwhelmed, forcing the most severely burned victims to be transferred to specialized burn units in neighboring countries, including Germany and Belgium.
The tragedy has drawn international attention as officials confirmed many of those inside the club were teenagers and young adults celebrating the start of the new year.
Pope Leo offered condolences to victims’ families in a telegram sent Friday to the Bishop of Sion, saying he prayed “that the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies.”
Survivors described scenes of panic and confusion inside the club as people struggled to escape through limited exits. BFMTV/X
Swiss prosecutors said the club’s French owners, Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica, 40, have been interviewed by police as part of the investigation.
Authorities said any potential charges would depend on whether safety standards, fire precautions or occupancy rules were violated.
The Morettis, speaking publicly for the first time Friday, told the Tribune de Geneve newspaper that all laws and regulations had been followed and said the bar had been inspected by safety officials three times over the past 10 years.
Authorities have warned that additional victim identifications could take days as families continue to wait for answers.
