The local public prosecutor in the Wallis canton announced that an 18-year-old Swiss national died on January 31 in a Zurich hospital, confirming the death toll from the New Year's Eve blaze at the Le Constellation bar now stands at 41. Public Prosecutor Beatrice Pilloud confirmed the fatality in a statement but offered no further details at that stage of the ongoing investigation.
The venue, reportedly popular with younger patrons in the ski resort where the legal drinking age is sixteen, resulted in 116 individuals sustaining injuries from the severe incident. Many victims, including eight children under the age of sixteen, continue to receive treatment for serious burns in hospitals both domestically and across Europe.
As of Monday, Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Protection reported that 44 patients were being treated internationally, including 18 in France and 12 in Italy. Additionally, the Wallis health ministry stated that 37 patients remained hospitalized within Swiss medical facilities, underscoring the scale of the event.
Initial investigative findings suggest the catastrophic fire started when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foam lining the ceiling of the bar's basement area. Authorities have also acknowledged a significant lapse, noting the bar had not undergone mandatory safety inspections for a period spanning five years.
Criminal proceedings have been filed against the bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who face charges including manslaughter by negligence and arson by negligence. The legal scrutiny extends to local governance, with proceedings also opened against the municipality's head of public safety and a former council fire safety inspector.
Judicial measures have been imposed on the owners, with Jessica Moretti subject to a travel ban requiring daily police reporting and passport surrender as an alternative to pre-trial detention. Jacques Moretti remains held in custody for an initial period established at 90 days following the incident.
