In brief
Following the tragic fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, where 40 people lost their lives due to pyrotechnics, Swiss cantons have banned indoor fireworks. The canton of Valais led the charge, with Geneva and Vaud soon following suit. Victims will receive emergency financial support, while investigations reveal that the bar had not been inspected for safety in five years, raising serious concerns about negligence and safety regulations.
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 set light to 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 being held in custody for an initial period of 90 days. His wife has had to surrender her passport and report to police every day.
The news that the bar had not been inspected for five years has shocked families of the victims, most of whom were young - eight were under the age of 16.
Many of the injured have severe burns. Eighty remain in hospitals in Switzerland and other European countries.
Identified widely as Cyane Panine, a 24-year-old waitress who followed the employer’s instructions, tragically became one of the fatalities. Her family stated: 'This young employee is in no way responsible.' This incident has sparked a community call for stricter safety regulations and has prompted an online platform for victims' families to share their experiences related to the disaster.
