Waitress trapped in Swiss bar fire where 40 died

Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Kills 40, Victim Identified

A waitress who was “like family” was found among those trapped behind a locked door during a fire at a Swiss ski resort that killed 40 people.

Jessica and Jacques Moretti, co-owners of Le Constellation, shared details of the tragic night with investigators.

Cyane Panine was identified as a victim of the Le Constellation disaster.

Details of the Night

According to reports, 34 of the 40 bodies were found at the foot of a narrow staircase, as stated by 20 Minuten.

Jessica described the night as “very quiet” at first, with few guests celebrating the New Year at midnight, according to police statements obtained by BFMTV.

She recalled telling Cyane, 24, that they needed to bring in more guests to liven up the atmosphere.

Emergency Response

Jessica noted that groups of people began arriving, and the bar was nearly full with about a hundred guests.

She then saw an “orange light” in the corner of the bar and shouted for everyone to exit.

Jessica called emergency services at 1:28 AM and instructed security to evacuate the venue.

Locked Door and Investigation

Jacques arrived shortly after and attempted to enter the building but found it filled with smoke.

He and two others went to a service door that was “closed and locked” from the inside.

If police determine the Morettis knowingly kept the door locked, they could face new charges.

Current Charges and Potential Consequences

Currently, they are accused of negligent homicide, but could face murder charges if found guilty of implied malice.

The couple could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Victim Accounts and Safety Concerns

Jacques described the moment he tried to save Cyane’s life, stating they attempted to resuscitate her for over an hour.

He also mentioned that he replaced the foam layer on the ceiling, which later caught fire.

Jacques claimed that staff regularly used sparklers and that inspections never deemed the bar a fire hazard.

Former Staff Claims

Two former employees, known as Maxime and Sarah, alleged that fire extinguishers were often locked and that fire safety training was inadequate.

Maxime expressed concerns about the risk of sparklers igniting the ceiling.

Casualties and Legal Proceedings

In addition to the 40 fatalities, 119 people were injured, some as young as 14 years old.

As Jacques was taken into custody, Jessica expressed her desire to apologize for the tragedy.

She will now have to report to police every three days.

Social Media and Legal Actions

Reports indicate that the Morettis disabled their social media accounts during rescue operations.

Lawyers for the victims have called for the couple to be placed in pre-trial detention.

Romain Jordan, a lawyer for some injured, noted that the accounts were blocked while rescue efforts were ongoing.