The grieving parents of a young waitress, initially blamed for starting a catastrophic fire in a Swiss nightclub, have launched a fierce attack on the venue's owners. They allege that cost-cutting decisions directly contributed to the deaths of 40 people, including their 24-year-old daughter, Cyane Panine.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
The deadly blaze erupted in the packed Le Constellation bar in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January. Disturbing footage from the night shows Cyane Panine, a French national, sitting on a colleague's shoulders while holding two champagne bottles fitted with sparklers. The pyrotechnics are believed to have ignited soundproofing foam in the ceiling, triggering a fire that rapidly engulfed the basement venue. A total of 40 people lost their lives, with a further 116 suffering severe burns.
Allegations of Locked Exits and Fatal Economics
In the aftermath, Cyane's parents, Astrid and Jerôme, condemned the bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti. They claim a critical emergency exit – described as a 'service door' – had been deliberately shut to prevent revellers from sneaking in without paying a €1,000 table charge, instead of hiring a doorman.
'Jacques had closed the emergency exit because he was afraid people would come in without paying,' Astrid told French broadcaster France 3 Occitanie. 'The tables cost 1,000 euros. And if you can't even put a guard at that door... If the door had been open, maybe there wouldn't have been any deaths.'
According to interrogation transcripts seen by Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, Jacques Moretti later stated he only became aware the door was 'locked from the inside and on a latch' after the fire had started. He described forcing it open to find a pile of bodies, including Cyane, who was dying.
A Family's Grief and Demand for Justice
Cyane was carried unconscious to a bar across the street. 'She was unconscious, but still alive,' her mother said. 'They tried to resuscitate her for forty minutes. To no avail.' The young woman was buried in the French port city of Sète on the Saturday following the tragedy.
Her parents are now navigating their profound loss while demanding accountability. 'She was a ray of sunshine for everyone,' Jerôme said. 'For us, the sun didn't rise again in 2026. There's a time for sadness and a time for anger. I think the anger will quickly take over.'
The family's lawyers issued a statement absolving Cyane of responsibility: 'Whatever the investigation reveals, this young woman followed her employers' instructions. She did what was asked of her by the managing director... This young employee bears no responsibility whatsoever.'
The owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, have been questioned by the Valais public prosecutor's office in Sion. Mr Moretti is currently in custody, while his wife has been released on bail with an electronic bracelet. They face potential trial on charges including manslaughter and causing bodily harm by negligence.
