The Swiss canton of Valais has banned pyrotechnic devices in all indoor public venues following the devastating fire at a bar on New Year's Eve where 40 people were killed and 116 were injured.
Authorities stated that each of the victims would receive a 10,000 franc ($12,500; £9,200) emergency payment, with a fund being established to collect donations for those affected.
Following Valais' lead, the canton of Geneva has also announced a ban on pyrotechnics in indoor venues. This comes days after Vaud became the first of Switzerland's 26 regions to prohibit such devices.
The inferno at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana reportedly began when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited sound-insulating foam padding on the ceiling.
Investigations have revealed that the bar had not undergone any safety checks in the past five years, raising serious concerns regarding negligence. The bar co-owners, French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti, face severe legal ramifications including accusations of manslaughter by negligence and arson by negligence.
Jacques Moretti is currently held in custody for an initial period of 90 days while his wife has been required to surrender her passport and report to police daily.
The tragic incident has left the community and families of the victims in shock, particularly since many victims were young, including eight who were under the age of 16. Currently, 80 individuals remain hospitalized across Switzerland and other European nations, some suffering from serious burns.
A lawyer representing the victims’ families has launched an online platform to gather personal testimonies related to the disaster, aiming to facilitate the investigation.
Among those killed was 24-year-old waitress Cyane Panine, who was captured on video prior to the tragedy, following her employers' instructions to handle the sparkler. Her family released a statement emphasizing her innocence in the tragic events.
