Owner of Swiss bar that burned down killing 41 ‘fled inferno without alerting partygoers’ to the danger on New Year’s Eve
One of the owners of a Swiss nightclub destroyed in a deadly fire at a New Year’s party fled the venue without warning those inside of the danger that was unfolding, prosecutors have said.
The inferno at Le Constellation bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana killed 41 people and injured another 115.
The fire is believed to have been caused as staff waved champagne bottles plugged with sparklers close to the ceiling.
Investigators believe it then rapidly developed into a ‘flashover’ – likely igniting much of the venue in seconds and rendering escape almost impossible.
Swiss prosecutors showed security footage taken inside the venue to lawyers representing the families of the victims earlier this week, it is reported.
Fabrizio Ventimiglia, representing 16-year-old Italian survivor Sofia Donadio, said a video showed Jessica Moretti, who owned the bar with her husband, running up the stairs to the exit after she spotted the fire.
‘What makes me angry is she does not help anyone and does not stop anyone entering – she doesn’t say anything, and I believe she had a moral, ethical and legal obligation to do so,’ said Mr Ventimiglia.
Ms Moretti told prosecutors she ‘panicked’ when she saw the flames and left the bar to call the fire brigade, adding that her intention was to come back when the venue had been evacuated.
