Swiss authorities detain co-owner of bar after deadly New Year’s Eve fire kills 40

One of the co-owners of a Swiss nightclub where a devastating fire killed 40 people on New Year’s Eve has been detained by authorities, Swiss media reported on Friday.

Sources cited by local outlets said Jacques Moretti, a French national, was taken into custody amid concerns that he posed a potential flight risk. Moretti jointly owns the Le Constellation bar in the alpine resort town of Crans-Montana with his wife, Jessica, who is also French.

The fire, which broke out shortly after midnight as New Year celebrations were underway, injured at least 116 people, many of them teenagers and young adults under the age of 20. Survivors described scenes of panic as smoke rapidly filled the basement venue.

Investigators revealed this week that the bar had not undergone mandatory fire safety inspections for five years, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight and compliance. Swiss prosecutors have since opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

Both Jacques and Jessica Moretti are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence, according to the Valais public prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors have not said whether Jessica Moretti has been detained.

Authorities believe the fire was sparked when revellers lifted champagne bottles fitted with sparklers, igniting sound-insulating foam attached to the ceiling of the underground bar. The flames reportedly spread rapidly due to the flammable materials.

On Friday, Switzerland observed a national day of mourning for the victims. A minute of silence was held across the country, followed by church bells ringing for five minutes.

Public life briefly came to a standstill as trains and trams were halted and Zurich airport paused operations. In Crans-Montana, a local memorial ceremony drew residents and officials, ending with a standing ovation for the firefighters who responded to the blaze.

The investigation into the fire and potential safety violations remains ongoing.