Two months after the devastating bar fire in Crans-Montana, many of the severely injured survivors continue a difficult recovery, with nearly 60 still hospitalized or in rehabilitation. Families of the 41 victims, mostly young, express profound anger and grief, as highlighted by survivor Mélanie Van de Velde, who described her body as a “battlefield” on Facebook.

The bar operators, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under investigation concerning fire safety protocols, including the marking of emergency exits, the legality of a narrowed escape staircase, and the fire-resistant properties of ceiling foam. They were confronted by angry relatives outside a hearing in Sitten.

The public prosecutor is also investigating current and former municipal safety officials, as mandatory annual fire safety inspections had not been conducted at the bar since 2019. Mayor Nicolas Féroud has faced criticism for failing to explain this lapse and for not publicly apologizing to the victims.

Source: Kurier — https://kurier.at/chronik/welt/bar-brand-opfer-crans-montana-anwaelte-verbrennungen/403135707