"The screams rang out in the icy cold. It was apocalyptic." These were the haunting words of Marie, a survivor of the Crans-Montana ski bar fire, as Switzerland paused to mourn the 40 young souls lost in the New Year’s Eve tragedy.

Church bells tolled across the alpine nation on Friday, marking a national day of mourning. But amidst the white roses and tears in Martigny, a current of anger ran deep. The revelation that the bar’s owners, French nationals Jacques and Jessica Moretti, have been detained on suspicion of negligent manslaughter has done little to quell the fury of grieving families.

The Negligence Charge

Swiss prosecutors acted swiftly, fearing the couple was a flight risk. They face charges of arson by negligence and bodily harm. Investigators suspect that overcrowding and blocked fire exits—sacrificed for "atmosphere"—turned the popular après-ski venue into a death trap.

• The Scene: Marie described a night of celebration turning instantly into a nightmare. "The smell of burning plastic and hair is something I will never forget," she told the tearful congregation.
• The Victims: Most were students and young professionals celebrating the start of 2026. Their lives were extinguished in minutes.
• Justice Demanded: "We don't just want prayers; we want prison," said the father of one victim. The tragedy has sparked a nationwide debate on safety standards in Switzerland’s lucrative ski tourism sector.

A Scar on the Mountain

Crans-Montana, usually a playground for the wealthy, is now a site of pilgrimage for the bereaved. As the snow falls on the blackened ruins of the bar, the question remains: was profit put before safety?