Crans-Montana: burial chambers open for victims. A precedent emerges

L’ambasciatore Cornado

L'ambasciatore d'Italia in Svizzera Gian Lorenzo Cornado. Crans-Montana, 04 gennaio 2026. ANSA/THIERRY PRONESTI

City Mourning

The mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, has proclaimed city mourning on the occasion of the funerals of the two young Milanese victims of the Crans-Montana massacre, Chiara Costanzo and Achille Barosi. The decision was taken as a sign of 'condolences and participation of the community in the grief for the tragedy in Crans-Montana', reads a note from the municipality.

the mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore has proclaimed city mourning for Wednesday 7 January, on the occasion of the funeral of Giovanni Tamburi. For the entire day of Wednesday, the municipal flag will be displayed in mourning on public buildings. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. in St. Peter's Cathedral.

A prayer in memory of Riccardo Minghetti. was held this morning at the parish of San Giovanni Battista de la Sale in Rome

Turning to the injured, in the fire in Crans Montana, '20 Italian citizens were involved, 14 injured and 6 unfortunately died. At the moment, an Italian citizen is in hospital in Switzerland, who was to be transferred first yesterday and then today, but the clinical conditions do not allow for transport at the moment and we must update in a few days for an initial bulletin and to receive what is called a 'Fit to fly', i.e. the ability of a person to withstand a medical flight'. These were the words of the head of the civil protection department, Fabio Ciciliano, during a press conference to take stock of the coordination of the activities of the national civil protection service linked to the Crans Montana tragedy.

Of the eleven injured people from Crans-Montana admitted to Niguarda Hospital in Milan, five are in the Large Burns Centre and six in intensive care, three of them in a 'particularly critical' condition. This was stated by Giampaolo Casella, director of Anaesthesia and Resuscitation at Niguarda, according to whom 'in the coming weeks we will have a real battle for these patients', whose 'clinical situation is extremely serious'.

The burns, adds Dr Casella, 'are very extensive' and 'everyone unfortunately also has damage from inhaling poisonous fumes'. "We will have expected complications," he emphasises, predicting "further surgery". 'We have already done many of them,' he observes, 'we operated on six immediately, two afterwards, and two more are in the operating room'.

On Wednesday, 7 January, a minute's silence will be observed in all Italian schools in memory of the victims of the tragic fire in Crans-Montana. "In this moment of deep sorrow," says Education and Merit Minister Giuseppe Valditara, "the school community's thoughts are with the young people who lost their lives in circumstances that should have been carefree and shared. With the minute's silence in the schools we want to remember the young victims and express our closeness to their families, to whom my heartfelt thoughts and condolences go".

A mass in Rome for the young victims of Crans-Montana: Giorgia Meloni has invited ministers, high-ranking officials and also opposition leaders to a moment of 'national unity', as Il Messaggero writes. The celebration, as confirmed to Ansa, will be held on Friday afternoon in the Basilica of Saints Ambrose and Charles al Corso in the heart of the capital.

"The images of the arrival in Italy of the victims of the Crans-Montana tragedy have deeply affected all of us. In this moment of great sorrow I would like to express once again my condolences to the families of the victims, who are facing a devastating moment with dignity and strength. Our sincerest sympathy goes out to you'. Premier Giorgia Meloni wrote this on social media.

In the meantime, the Swiss judiciary has opened a criminal investigation for manslaughter, culpable personal injury and negligent fire against the club's managers, investigating possible liability. Under investigation are the sparkling candles lit on the champagne bottles, which - according to witnesses - allegedly started the inferno. The soundproofing materials installed on the ceiling, their compliance with safety regulations, and the presence and functionality of fire extinguishers and emergency exits are also being checked. In the meantime, the municipality of Crans-Montana has joined the criminal proceedings following the tragic fire.

A video released by the Swiss news outlet Rts shows that the risk of fire from the flammable soundproofing material on the Constellation's ceilings coming into contact with the pyrotechnic candles used to serve alcohol at parties had already been known for some years. It was a barman at the Crans-Montana venue who told some customers attending the New Year's Eve 2020 party: 'Watch out for the foam! Watch out for the foam! ('Faites gaffes à la mousses! Faites gaffes à la mousses!')', according to the young woman who provided the images and who had attended the evening. The warning had been issued to young people who had just received the bottles they had ordered, with pyrotechnic candles, to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

The municipal administration of Crans-Montana has revoked the operating licence of 'La petite maison', the second venue on the Swiss local authority's land of Mr and Mrs Moretti, the Constellation managers under investigation for manslaughter after the New Year's Eve fire. Rts reports. This decision - taken by the municipality in light of the incident - means immediate closure. An appeal against the measure is possible.

"I trust that they will get justice, there is the commitment of the Swiss authorities, the interrogations are going on all round, the attorney general assured me. I always trust in the judiciary, including the Swiss one." The Italian ambassador to Switzerland Gian Lorenzo Cornad told Tg4 on the day of the return of the young Italian victims of the Crans Montana tragedy. "I feel the responsibility to the full, it will be my priority until the end of my mandate in Berne, Italy wants the truth," he added.

Referring to the soundproofing material on the ceiling of the Constellation that caught fire in the New Year's Eve fire in Crans-Montana, the ambassador told reporters that it is accurate that the ceiling of the Constellation was not fireproof. "I learned this from the local authorities who admitted it, that they are aware that that material was flammable, it was not fireproof. On the other hand, the proof is the fact that it caught fire," he said. "What I know is that if there was an emergency exit it was poorly signposted, and in the midst of that disaster the boys didn't even see it."

"No coercive measures have been ordered against the suspects, as the criteria for pre-trial detention are not currently met. At present, there is no suspicion that the defendants intend to evade criminal proceedings or the intended punishment by absconding. The other criteria, i.e. the risk of recidivism or collusion, are not taken into account. The investigation is ongoing to ascertain any other criminal liability'. Thus the public prosecutor's office of the Canton of Valais and the cantonal police: the reference is to the managers of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who are being investigated for manslaughter. The bar is owned by the French. Jessica Moretti, who was in the bar at the time of the fire, was burnt on one arm, while Jacques Moretti was not in the bar at the time of the night-time fire, but in one of the other two premises owned by the two.