The lower house of the Swiss Parliament approved on Monday a compensation plan for the victims of the deadly fire that occurred in a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort on New Year's Eve. The plan provides for a one-time payment of 50,000 Swiss francs, or approximately $64,000, to survivors and the families of the victims.
This contribution, described as "solidarity," aims to provide rapid financial support to those affected by the disaster. It had already been adopted the previous week by the upper house of Parliament, paving the way for its entry into force.
The fire at the bar "Le Constellation" left 41 dead and 115 injured. The majority of the victims were teenagers, and several of them were foreign nationals, particularly from France and Italy.
According to witness statements and the initial findings of prosecutors, the fire was caused by the use of sparklers during the party. The sparks are believed to have ignited the foam soundproofing in the basement ceiling of the bar, causing the flames to spread rapidly.
Meanwhile, the judicial investigation continues. Court documents indicate that Swiss prosecutors have broadened their investigation by adding the mayor of Crans-Montana and four other current or former local officials to the list of suspects. Authorities are particularly interested in determining whether breaches of safety regulations contributed to the scale of the tragedy.
