The managers of the bar that saw more than 40 people die after a deadly fire at a Swiss ski resort are now officially under investigation.
Authorities have said the two owners are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing fire by negligence after the New Year’s celebrations turned deadly and injured more than 115 people.
The most recent figures suggest 47 people died after the fire broke out just one hour after the New Year was welcomed in Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana resort.
Investigators believe fountain sparklers mounted on champagne bottlers held too close to the ceiling caused the deadly blaze.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Locals have been arriving to lay wreaths paying tribute to the victims
|REUTERS
The fire broke out at about 01.30am on Thursday in the bar which was packed with mostly young people.
One image circulating online appeared to show the ceiling of the basement apparently clad with foam soundproofing panels catching fire.
Police said many of the injured were in their teens to mid-20s, and authorities planned to look at whether sound-dampening material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were allowed to be used in the bar.
The process of identifying the dead and injured continued on Saturday as relatives waited.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Officials said they would also be looking at other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.
The Valais region’s senior prosecutor said further prosecutions could be carried out if any criminal liability is found.
The area’s top security official, Stephane Ganzer, told SRF public radio on Saturday that “such a huge accident with a fire in Switzerland means that something didn’t work – maybe the material, maybe the organisation on the spot.”
He added: “Something didn’t work and someone made a mistake, I am sure of that.”
More From GB News