Tragedy brought people together in Crans-Montana and brought the country to a standstill.
On Friday, just down the road from the bar where 40 young people were killed by fire on New Year's Eve, church bells rang in their memory, tolling across Switzerland as part of a national day of mourning.
Shortly after a special memorial service concluded, reports emerged that one of the bar's owners, Jacques Moretti, had been detained. Swiss prosecutors indicated he was considered a potential flight risk and are investigating him and his wife, Jessica, for manslaughter and negligence.
The detention follows mounting pressure from victims' families who have demanded accountability. Anger has been building within the community in the days following the fire.
At a memorial service in Martigny, relatives of the deceased gathered with survivors, some recently discharged from hospital. They held white roses and supported each other amidst grief. A young woman named Marie recounted her horrific experience helping the injured escape the flames, describing the scene as 'apocalyptic.'
Listening from the front row were the presidents of France and Italy, which lost citizens in the tragedy. Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed outrage at the apparent negligence displayed by the bar's management.
Investigations revealed that the fire started from a sparkler tied to a champagne bottle, igniting soundproofing foam that had not been safety tested. Eyewitness accounts suggested emergency exits were blocked during the chaos.
Local authorities have admitted failure in conducting mandatory safety checks on the bar for five years, raising serious concerns about community regulations.
As grief-stricken citizens continue to lay flowers at the site of the tragedy, questions remain about the adequacy of safety measures in public venues and the accountability of those responsible for ensuring their enforcement.
