The owners of a Swiss nightclub where 40 people lost their lives in a devastating New Year’s Day fire have given their most detailed account yet of the tragedy, describing how a young waitress they considered “like a stepdaughter” suffocated behind a locked door amid piles of bodies.
Jacques and Jessica Moretti, proprietors of the Le Constellation bar in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, spoke at length to prosecutors as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into one of Switzerland’s deadliest nightclub fires in decades.
Their testimony focused heavily on the final moments of Cyane Panine, a French national who had been working at the venue that night and died within an hour of being rescued.
According to investigators, the fire broke out in the early hours of January 1 after champagne sparklers were used during New Year celebrations in the bar’s basement.
The pyrotechnics are believed to have ignited acoustic foam in the ceiling, causing flames and thick smoke to spread rapidly through the crowded venue.
In total, 40 people died, while more than 100 others suffered serious burns or smoke inhalation injuries.
Mr Moretti told prosecutors that he managed to force open a service door from outside the building after smoke made entry impossible through the main access points.
Behind the door, which he said was unexpectedly locked from the inside, he discovered Cyane Panine unconscious among multiple bodies.
“She was trapped behind a locked door, in a pile of bodies,” he said, describing frantic efforts to pull victims outside and administer first aid.
Despite attempts to resuscitate her for more than an hour alongside her partner, emergency responders later confirmed that Cyane could not be saved.
Ms Moretti, who arrived at the bar earlier in the evening, told investigators she had encouraged staff to energize the atmosphere as crowds grew closer to midnight.
This reportedly included serving champagne bottles with sparklers while waitresses were lifted onto the shoulders of colleagues—an act that placed open flames close to the ceiling.
She said she immediately shouted for everyone to evacuate when she noticed an orange glow in the corner of the bar and called emergency services at 1:28am after exiting the building.
The villa was evacuated, but many patrons were unable to escape in time due to smoke, crowding, and locked access points.
Both owners confirmed the venue lacked sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers and that staff had not received formal fire safety training.
While the Morettis insisted the sparklers had been used previously without incident, investigators are examining whether safety standards were breached and whether negligence played a role in the scale of the disaster.
Mr Moretti remains in custody as prosecutors consider charges including negligent manslaughter, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson.
Ms Moretti has been released on bail and is wearing an electronic monitoring device. Both deny criminal wrongdoing.
Victims’ families, including Cyane Panine’s mother, have questioned why emergency exits were locked and whether her death—and others—could have been prevented.
“She knew the building perfectly,” her mother said. “She went straight for the exit, but it was locked.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to examine safety procedures, building modifications, and the actions taken during the evacuation.