Exact second fireplace begins in Swiss membership as ‘catastrophe ready to occur’ blaze kills 47

This is the moment a Swiss nightclub went up in flames during New Year’s Eve celebrations, claiming at least 47 lives and injuring 115 others. It has now been revealed the bar is owned by a French couple who are influential figures in the Swiss hospitality sector.

The explosion took place around 1.30am local time (12.30am GMT) in the basement of ‘Le Constellation’, a popular spot situated in the heart of the Alpine town of Crans-Montana. The fire rapidly engulfed the club, resulting in a devastating blaze that claimed dozens of lives.

Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica, 40, originally from the French island of Corsica, now face a barrage of questions regarding how the lethal fire spread so swiftly in their basement venue, transforming it into a death trap.

Mrs Moretti’s Facebook page discloses her connections to the UK, having studied at the University of Glamorgan in Wales, as well as the International University of Monaco, and the Montpelier Business School in France.

The couple, who have a young son, opened their bar Le Constellation in the posh ski resort of Crans-Montana in December 2015, after heading there for a week-long holiday in 2011.

With an upstairs terrace and a basement club featuring DJs and live music, the bar was one of the town’s popular spots, with young and wealthy clientele of winter sports enthusiasts and locals flocking there.

The Mail Online reports it’s one of the few bars in the ski resort that allows party-goers aged 16 and above, rather than the usual 18. Mr and Mrs Moretti were able to open two other restaurants in the area, establishing themselves as a hardworking and successful entrepreneurial couple.

Now, fire investigators looking into the cause of the recent tragedy are reportedly examining whether the basement, which had only one relatively narrow staircase, was essentially “a disaster waiting to happen”. They will also determine whether the wooden furnishings inside the basement, the wooden panelling on some of the walls, and the reported foam-style insulation material on the ceiling contributed to the spread of the fire.

Witness reports claim the fire was sparked by a waitress holding a sparkler in a bottle, causing material on the ceiling to ignite before flames rapidly spread. Authorities have said the fire resulted in a “flashover”, leading to one or more explosions.

Mrs Moretti was inside the club during the horror incident and was said to have suffered burns to her arm. Sources have said the couple are “completely in shock”.

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