A new Year’s Eve celebration at a Swiss ski resort turned tragic when a fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans Montana claimed 40 lives and injured 116 others.Investigations are now focusing on potential safety lapses, including the decade-long practice of using sparklers in champagne bottles and a five-year gap since the bar’s last safety inspection [[1]].As legal proceedings begin against the bar’s owners, questions are mounting regarding the obligation for the disaster and the extent to which a young employee was placed in harm’s way.
A Swiss ski resort bar employee who died in a New Year’s Eve fire lacked safety training and was unaware of the danger posed by the ceiling that ultimately ignited, according to her family’s lawyer.
The tragedy, which claimed 40 lives and injured 116 others at the Le Constellation bar in Crans Montana, has prompted questions about safety protocols and oversight at the popular resort. The incident has drawn international attention, highlighting the potential risks associated with pyrotechnic displays in enclosed public spaces.
Cyane Panine, 24, was identified in video footage showing her wearing a helmet and holding a bottle of champagne with a lit sparkler as the roof began to burn. Bar owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti, French nationals, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, negligent injury, and negligent arson.
Sophie Haenni, representing the Panine family, told the BBC that Panine “should not have been serving tables” on the night of the fire, but was asked to assist due to high demand. “It was not Cyane who decided to put on the helmet, but she did so at the instruction of her employers. She was simply doing her job,” Haenni said.
“It is outrageous that responsibility for the mistakes of the bosses is being attributed to Cyane, a 24-year-old employee,” she added. Haenni stated that Panine had never been informed “of the danger of the roof or received any safety training.”
According to investigative documents, Jessica Moretti told investigators that the use of sparklers in champagne bottles had been a practice at the bar for the past 10 years. “It wasn’t the first time it had been done, climbing on someone’s shoulders,” Moretti reportedly said. “She did it on her own initiative.”
Haenni argued that the tragedy “could have been avoided” if safety regulations – particularly those concerning materials – had been respected and necessary inspections carried out. “Cyane is undoubtedly a victim,” she said.
The family’s lawyers also claim Panine felt “used” and “suffered due to her working conditions.” “Cyane expressed her astonishment at the lack of empathy and understanding from her employers regarding her workload,” a statement from the legal team read.
“My clients have lost their daughter, their sister. A loved one, a wonderful person, has been taken from them,” the statement continued.
The BBC has contacted lawyers for Jacques and Jessica Moretti for comment.
“Flight Risk”
A Swiss court on Wednesday imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention, citing concerns over a “flight risk.” She has surrendered her passport and is required to report to police daily, authorities said.
Moretti previously told reporters she deeply regrets the “unimaginable tragedy.” Her partner, Jacques Moretti, remains in pre-trial detention for an initial period of 90 days, with prosecutors also arguing he poses a flight risk.
Preliminary findings from the fire investigation suggest the blaze was triggered by sparklers igniting soundproofing foam on the ceiling. The development underscores the dangers of combining pyrotechnics with flammable materials in public venues.
Authorities have confirmed the bar had not undergone safety inspections in the last five years. The Swiss canton of Valais has now banned the use of pyrotechnic devices in all enclosed public spaces.
Officials announced that each victim will receive an emergency payment of $12,500, and a fund is being established to collect donations.
Pope Francis met with family members of some of the victims on Thursday and said he was “deeply moved and saddened” after speaking with them at the Vatican. “Where can one find a comparable consolation to what you need?” he asked.
