Swiss bar fire victims honored with silent march by hundreds of mourners – National

Hundreds of people marched in silence on Sunday in honor of the victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, which left 40 people dead and many seriously injured.

Sombre mourners, many with bloodshot eyes, quietly left the chapel to the music of the bells after the hour-long Mass at the Chapelle Saint-Christophe in Crans-Montana. Some hugged, others applauded, before joining the silent march up the hill to the Le Constellation bar.

Many hundreds of people, small bouquets of flowers, walk in a dense procession that snakes in the sunlight past closed shops. Up on the mountain overlooking the city, snow machines sent white flakes into the air.

At the top of the road, in front of Le Constellation not yet protected from the white screens, a swollen crowd stood around the stage, some crying. Then they cheered – gloved hands and chameleons in the cold – as a line of mourners and well-wishers laid flowers at a makeshift memorial filled with flowers, soft toys and other tributes.

“With this tragic event, I believe that we must all remember that we are all brothers and sisters in humanity,” said Véronique Barras, a local resident who knows grieving families. “It’s important to support each other, embrace each other, and move forward in the light.”

Cathy Premer said her daughter was out celebrating her 17th birthday on December 31 when she called in the early hours of the morning saying she was stuck because Le Constellation was closed. “For young people – but also for adults – it is difficult to understand things that seem inexplicable,” she said. “They went there to enjoy the event, the destination on December 31, it’s very nice, there were people of many nationalities … and everything turned into a disaster.”

In the crowd, Paola Ponti Greppi, an 80-year-old Italian who lives in Crans-Montana, called for security checks in bars. “We need more security in these areas because it’s not the only place like this. Why didn’t the city do a proper inspection? To me, that’s bad.”

During the Mass, Pastor Gilles Cavin spoke of the “terrible uncertainty” of families who are not sure if their loved ones are among the dead or alive among the wounded. “There are no words strong enough to express the disappointment, sorrow, and anger of those affected in their lives today. However, we are here, united because silence alone is not enough,” he said.

In the crowded seats, the grieving woman listened intently, her hands folded tightly and sometimes entwining rosary beads, as speakers delivered readings in German, French and Italian.

40 people died and 119 were injured in the fire that broke out around 1:30 am on Thursday at the Le Constellation pub. Police said most of the victims were in their mid-20s.

On Sunday morning, Swiss authorities identified 24 of the 40 dead. They include 18 Swiss citizens aged 14 to 31, two Italians aged 16, one citizen of Italy and the United Arab Emirates also aged 16, an 18-year-old Romanian, a 39-year-old Frenchman and a Turkish citizen, 18.

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One of the victims was 16-year-old Arthur Brodard, whose mother had been frantically looking for him.

“Our Arthur is now gone to play in paradise,” a visibly shaken Laetitia Brodard said in a Facebook post on Saturday night, speaking to the camera. “We can begin to mourn, knowing that he is in peace and light.”

Brodard’s frantic search for his son shows the despair of the families of young people who disappeared during the fire, who did not know whether their loved ones were dead or in the hospital.

Swiss authorities said the process of identifying the victims was extremely difficult due to the high level of burns, which required the use of DNA samples. Brodard had also given him a DNA sample to aid in the identification process.

In his Facebook post, he thanked those who “proved their compassion, their love” and those who shared information while anxiously searching for news of his son. Some parents and siblings are still waiting in grief.

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s management.

The two are accused of involuntary manslaughter, involuntary wounding and arson, the chief prosecutor of the Valais region, Beatrice Pilloud, told the media on Saturday. The announcement of the investigation did not identify the managers.

Investigators said Friday they believe candles lit in champagne bottles ignited the fire as it neared the ceiling of the crowded bar.

The authorities planned to check whether the noise reduction devices in the ceiling complied with the rules and whether candles were allowed to be used in the bar. Officials said they will look at other security measures in the area, including fire extinguishers and escape routes.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared a national day of mourning for the victims on Jan. 9.

The Minister of Health in France, Stéphanie Rist, said that 17 patients received care in France, of which 35 came from Switzerland to five European countries. Other patients were scheduled to be transferred to Germany, Italy and Belgium.

–Associated Press reporters Kostya Manenkov in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Claudia Ciobanu in Warsaw contributed to this report.

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