Crans-Montana, Switzerland (AP) — Hundreds held a silent procession Sunday to honor the victims of a New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the Swiss alpine resort of Crans-Montana, which killed 40 people and seriously injured many.
After an hour-long Mass at Chapel Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana, dozens of red-eyed mourners filed outside the chapel for silent music. Some hugged at Le Constellation Bar before heading up the hill.
Several hundreds of people were walking in a dense serpentine procession in the bright sunlight. On the hill overlooking the city, snow machines sent plumes of white flakes into the air.
At the top of the street, in front of Le Constellation – which is still largely shielded from view by white screens – the swelling crowd stood in almost complete silence, some crying.
Then they gave a standing ovation for the rescue teams and police who rushed to the horrified scene, gloves and mittens on their hands against the cold. Mourners and well-wishers piled bouquets at a makeshift memorial filled with flowers, toys and other tributes. Some firefighters also wiped their eyes.
‘They went to a party’
“Through this tragedy, I believe we all have to remember that we are all brothers and sisters in humanity,” said local resident Véronique Baras, who knows the bereaved families. “It’s important to support each other, hug each other and move forward towards the light.”
Kathy Primer said her daughter was out celebrating her 17th birthday on New Year’s Eve when she got an early-morning call to say she was stranded because Le Constellation was cordoned off.
“For young people – but also for adults – it’s hard to understand the incomprehensible,” she said. “They went there to party, it’s the destination of December 31, it’s very festive, there were people of many nationalities … and it all turned into a tragedy.”
In the crowd, Paola Ponti Greppi, an 80-year-old Italian who owns a home in Crans-Montana, called for a security check at the bars. “We need more security in these places because this is not just a place like that. Why didn’t the city do a proper check? To me, that’s terrible.”
Mass for the victims
During the Mass, Rev. Gilles Kevin spoke of the “terrible uncertainty” for families as to whether their loved ones were among the dead or among the wounded still alive.
“There are not enough words to express the frustration, pain and anger of those affected in their lives today. And yet, we are gathered here because silence is not enough,” he said.
In the crowd, a grieving woman listened intently, her hands tightly clasped and occasionally clutching rosary beads, as speakers recited readings in German, French and Italian.
40 people died and 119 were injured in the fire that broke out at Le Constellation Bar around 1:30 pm on Thursday. According to police, most of the victims were in their teens to 20s.
As of Sunday evening, Swiss authorities had identified 40 deaths.
sad mother
One of the victims was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, whose mother had been searching for him.
“Our Arthur is no longer partying in heaven,” a visibly shaken Letitia Brodard said to the camera in a Facebook story posted Saturday night. “We can begin our mourning, knowing that he is in peace and light.”
Brodard’s frantic search for her son reflected the frustration of families of young people who went missing during the fire, who didn’t know if their loved ones were dead or in hospital.
Swiss officials said the process of identifying the victims was particularly difficult because of the advanced degree of burns, requiring the use of DNA samples. Brodard also provided her DNA sample to aid in the identification process.
In her Facebook post, she thanked those who “witnessed their compassion, their love” and shared information as she searched and waited for news of her son. Other parents and siblings are still waiting in agony.
Bar managers face criminal investigations
Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar managers.
The two are suspected of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary bodily harm and involuntary arson, Valais region chief prosecutor Béatrice Pilwood told reporters on Saturday. The managers were not named in the announcement of the investigation.
The regional police said on Sunday that there is no legal basis yet which would require the managers to be subject to legal proceedings. They are not considered a flight risk.
Investigators have said they believe the party’s glowing candles on champagne bottles ignited the fire when the crowd got too close to the bar’s ceiling.
Officials are looking into whether sound-deadening materials on the ceiling comply with regulations and whether candles are permitted for use in the bar. The investigation focused on other safety measures on the premises, including fire extinguishers and escape routes, and whether previous work on the site was up to code.
“Preliminary eyewitness accounts cited a fire that spread rapidly, producing a lot of smoke and a large heat wave,” police said in a statement on Sunday. “Everything happened so fast.”
Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared national mourning for the victims on January 9.
French Health Minister Stephanie Rist said 17 patients received care in France, out of a total of 35 transferred from Switzerland to five European countries. Other patients were planned to be transferred to Germany, Italy and Belgium.
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Associated Press reporters Kostya Manenkov in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sylvie Corbett in Paris and Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw contributed to this report.
