A devastating New Year's Eve blaze at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, claimed 40 lives and left 116 injured, with 83 still hospitalized for severe burns. The owner of the Swiss bar, Jacques Moretti, has been arrested following an order from Swiss prosecutors, who detained him in Sion due to a potential flight risk. This tragedy, one of the worst in Switzerland's recent history, has profoundly shaken the country, prompting a national day of mourning and a memorial ceremony attended by top European officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Prosecutors are investigating Jacques Moretti and his wife, Jessica, the French owners of Le Constellation, on suspicion of crimes including homicide by negligence and manslaughter through negligence. They believe the inferno began in the bar's crammed basement section when champagne bottles with sparklers attached were raised too close to sound insulation foam on the ceiling. Experts suggest that the highly flammable foam likely caused a "flashover," a near-simultaneous ignition of everything in the enclosed space, trapping many young patrons. Horrifying video footage from the tragedy shows young people desperately attempting to escape, some breaking windows in their frantic efforts to flee.

The arrest of Jacques Moretti came despite an earlier statement from Valais prosecutors five days prior, which indicated no coercive measures were deemed necessary as criteria for pre-trial detention were not met. However, concerns mounted that Jacques and Jessica might use their French passports to evade justice, as France does not extradite its citizens. Jessica Moretti has since been made to wear an electronic bracelet and is required to report to the police every three days, according to Swiss news outlet 24 Heures. The couple, who acquired the bar in 2015 and undertook renovations, have denied any wrongdoing, stating they are "devastated and overwhelmed with grief" and pledging "full cooperation" with investigators.

The victims of the blaze, mostly in their teens and 20s, included some as young as 14. While the majority were Swiss, a total of 19 nationalities were among the fatalities and wounded, with nine French victims. The enormity of the event has deeply affected communities, with state councillor and president of the Council of State of the Canton of Valais, Mathias Reynard, issuing a public apology: "As adults, as political leaders, the least we can do is apologise, on behalf of the entire community. We will never forget this day." He described the moment of celebration turning into a nightmare of violence and death for young people.

Mounting anger and dismay have followed the revelation of staggering lapses in safety procedures. Municipal authorities astonishingly admitted that no fire safety inspections had been conducted at Le Constellation since 2019, despite local law requiring annual checks. This admission by Crans-Montana mayor Nicolas Féraud drew widespread outrage, as families seek answers regarding why such a tragedy could occur in Switzerland, a country known for its stringent regulations.

Further evidence suggests prior awareness of the risks. Photos taken by the owners confirm soundproofing foam was added during 2015 renovations. A video filmed by a member of the public and screened by Swiss broadcaster RTS showed a bar employee warning, "Watch out for the foam!" during 2019 New Year's Eve celebrations when sparklers were being used with champagne bottles. Lawyers representing victims' families, like Romain Jordan, described this video as "staggering," indicating a known and potentially accepted risk. Moreover, former staff have alleged poor safety standards at the club, claiming fire extinguishers were kept under lock and key and the emergency exit was often locked.

Lawyers for the affected families have criticized the investigative process, accusing the bar's owners of deactivating their Instagram and Facebook accounts, potentially deleting crucial evidence. They also claimed authorities initially tried to exclude them from hearings, highlighting concerns about the pace and thoroughness of securing evidence. The legal teams are demanding comprehensive answers regarding why so many minors were present and whether fire safety standards were adhered to, emphasizing the need for all responsibilities, "from A to Z," to be established.

The Crans-Montana tragedy has prompted a nationwide re-evaluation of safety measures. Thousands of bars, restaurants, and nightspots across Crans-Montana and surrounding towns are now undergoing checks, with new safety regulations announced in other cantons. The incident has forced a public reckoning, with many realizing that the common practice of using sparklers in crowded venues could lead to similar disasters, fostering a widespread push to rigorously inspect and enforce safety regulations to prevent such an "incomprehensible nightmare" from recurring.