Swiss fire latest: Bar owners detained after fire killed 40 in Crans-Montana bar

We're pausing our live coverage after the detention of Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French couple who own Le Constellation, the bar where 40 people were killed in a New Year's Eve fire.

The arrest of Jacques Moretti and detention of his wife under house arrest came as Switzerland held national mourning ceremonies to remember the victims of the disaster.

Scroll through our updates to catch up on developments as they happened.

Prosecutors asked for Jacques Moretti to be held in pre-trial detention, the Valais region's chief prosecutor has confirmed.

Beatrice Pilloud said the request was needed to avoid a "risk of flight".

Prosecutors said it was decided that Jessica Moretti, who co-owned the bar with her husband, could remain free under judicial supervision.

The couple are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire.

Under Swiss law, the subject of an investigation remains in custody until a decision is made by a separate court within 48 hours.

Jessica Moretti, co-owner of Le Constellation, has been placed under house arrest.

That follows her husband, Jacques Moretti, being arrested after an order from Swiss prosecutors earlier this afternoon.

The Italian prime minister has blamed the fire on people who thought they could make "easy money".

Giorgia Meloni told a news conference today: "What happened is not a disaster: It's the result of too many people who didn't do their job or who thought they were making easy money.

"Those responsible must be identified and prosecuted."

Local media reported yesterday that an investigation had been opened into the fire by the Rome prosecutor's office.

They allege manslaughter and arson, while a post-mortem has been ordered for five of the six Italians who were killed in the fire.

Jacques Moretti was remanded into custody after a hearing at the prosecutor's office in the Swiss city of Sion earlier today.

He and his wife Jessica Moretti, who co-owned the bar, did not respond to questions from reporters outside, but have expressed their grief over the fire and said they would cooperate fully.

The mayor of Crans-Montana apologised on Tuesday after it emerged that Le Constellation bar had not been inspected since 2019.

"We are profoundly sorry," Nicolas Feraud told reporters. "We did not have an indication that the checks had not been done."

He also said at a news conference that security considered the bar's soundproof foam - which ignited rapidly after the fire started - to be acceptable at the time, and that a fire alarm was not required due to the bar's size.

Emmanuel Macron has also posted a statement in tribute to the victims of the fire, including French citizens.

"To the bereaved families, with whom we share the pain and the grief," he says on X. 

"To the injured, to whom we extend our fraternal thoughts and our solidarity."

Hundreds - including the Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin and French President Emmanuel Macron - have gathered in Martigny to pay tribute to the victims of the New Year's fire today.

Disaster struck during the early hours of New Year's Day, when a fire broke out at Le Constellation, a bar in the upmarket Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The incident occurred at roughly 1.30am local time (12.30am UK time) while guests were celebrating the start of 2026.

At least 40 people died in the fire and 119 were injured.

The fire appeared to spread voraciously, prompting people to surge up a staircase towards an exit. Witnesses reported people screaming, climbing over each other and smashing windows in panic to escape.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin described the fire as "one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced".

Watch: How Swiss bar fire spread so quickly

Jacques ‌Moretti has ⁠been detained due to a ​potential risk ​of flight, according to Swiss newspaper ‍24 Heures. 

Prosecutors ‍are investigating the French owners of the Le Constellation bar on suspicion of ‌crimes including homicide ⁠by negligence.

Several victims' families have ‍filed legal complaints over the fire at the bar in Crans-Montana .