Switzerland grieves ski resort victims on national day of mourning

Switzerland observed a national day of mourning and remembrance for the Crans-Montana fire victims on Friday (January 9). 

At 2pm local time a minute of silence was held, uniting communities across the whole country. It was followed by the ringing of church bells for five minutes across the Alpine nation to respect the victims and the injured. 

A special memorial ceremony was held in the city of Martigny, moved there over weather and safety concerns, with a heavy snowfall forecast for the day. 

The ceremony was by special invitation and a media center was organized for local and international media. The center was blocked off from the main event, with journalists being able to follow the ceremony live on television. Journalists were also invited to observe a minute of silence. 

Across the hall, Swiss president Guy Parmelin welcomed his French and Italian counterparts, as well as delegations from the EU and from other affected countries. 

Twenty one Swiss nationals were killed in the fire, along with 9 French and 6 Italians. 

Families of victims, survivors of the fire, medics and first responders were also present at the 90-minute ceremony. When firefighters walked into the hall, they were greeted by applause. 

Emotional tributes, poetry and music followed speeches. The President of the Valais Canton council gave a tearful speech, saying "our thoughts, our prayers and our hearts are with you, the grieving families, the injured and their loved ones, who live in anguish and uncertainty."

On Friday, the two owners of Le Constellation bar were questioned by the prosecutors. One of the owners, Jacques Moretti, a French national, was detained after being deemed a potential flight risk. The pair are suspected of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.

The fire at Le Constellation bar left 116 people injured, with many still in hospitals in a serious condition. Earlier this week, local authorities revealed that the bar had not undergone safety checks for five years.