The fire at Le Constellation, a bar located in the upscale Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana, erupted in the early hours of January 1 as New Year’s celebrations were underway.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sharply criticized a Swiss hospital on Tuesday for reportedly charging the families of some victims of a tragic fire at a bar in Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve.
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«I have spoken with our ambassador: Swiss authorities have confirmed that this was an error, and that families will not be required to cover any charges,» Meloni stated in a message on X.
«However, I urged the ambassador to keep vigilant on this matter, as it would be unacceptable for such expenses to burden the victims or Italy.»
Meloni further revealed that a hospital in Sion had requested €70,000 for patients hospitalized only a few hours, describing it as «an insult on top of a mockery.»
The fire at Le Constellation, set within the luxurious Alpine resort, broke out shortly after midnight on January 1 during the New Year’s festivities.
In total, 41 individuals, most of whom were teenagers, lost their lives, while 115 others sustained injuries.
Nine individuals are currently subjects of a criminal investigation related to the incident.
Among those investigated are the bar’s French proprietors, the married couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who face charges including negligent manslaughter, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson.
They have undergone two lengthy interrogations by public prosecutors and the legal representatives of the civil parties.
In January, Meloni and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that they requested Rome’s ambassador to Switzerland to reach out to regional prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud to express their «strong indignation» regarding the decision to release Jacques Moretti on bail.
Italy has also recalled its ambassador from Switzerland to «evaluate further steps,» according to the official statement.
Ignazio Cassis, Vice President of the Swiss Federal Council, responded on the social media platform X, stating, «We feel the pain, as it is ours too,» and noted that after speaking with Tajani, they both reaffirmed «the commitment of Switzerland and Italy to support each other in this shared tragedy.»
Investigators attribute the fire’s origin to champagne bottles with sparklers being held too close to the ceiling in the bar’s basement, igniting the soundproofing foam.
The revelation by the municipality on January 6 that the bar had not undergone any annual safety inspection since 2019 sparked public outrage.