Switzerland has held a national day of mourning for the 40 people who died in the ski bar fire during a New Year’s Eve celebration, as prosecutors requested one of the managers be placed in pre-trial detention.

The fire at the Le Constellation bar, in the Alpine resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 1, also injured 116 people.

A burn victim sits in a memorial service with bandages on their hands.

A victim with burned hands attended the official commemorative ceremony for the victims of the deadly fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana. (AP: Laurent Gillieron)

Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles on top of champagne bottles ignited the fire when they came too close to the ceiling.

The severity of burns made it difficult to identify some victims, requiring families to supply authorities with DNA samples.

Swiss police have, however, now identified all 40 victims, with police confirming many were in their teens to mid-20s.

‘Our country is appalled’

On Friday local time, Switzerland held a national day of mourning for the victims of the fire.

Across the country, people gathered to light candles, put down flowers for the victims and followed the national ceremony that was live streamed on public television.

Hundreds of people march along a street.

Hundreds of people also held a memorial procession in Crans-Montana on January 4 to remember the victims of the fire.

  (AP: Antonio Calanni)

Speaking at the memorial ceremony in Martigny, Swiss President Guy Parmelin said, “The memory of that terrible night illuminates the faces of the 156 victims, their happy days, their carefree spirit.”

He added: “Our country is appalled by this tragedy. It bows before the memory of those who are no longer with us. It stands by the bedside of those who are about to embark on a long road to recovery.”

Church bells also rang out across Switzerland, and a minute’s silence was held at 2pm.

Criminal investigation into bar owners

A Swiss business register lists the French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti as the owners of the bar.

Swiss authorities have opened a criminal investigation into the couple, who are suspected of involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and involuntarily causing a fire.

The owners of the "Le Constellation" bar in Crans-Montana are photographed looking concerned whilst walking with their lawyers.

The owners of the Le Constellation bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, with their lawyers Patrick Michod, Yael Hayat and Nicola Meier. (AP: Jean-Christophe Bott)

Prosecutors have requested that Jacques Moretti be placed in pre-trial detention.

The local chief prosecutor, Beatrice Pilloud said in a statement that his detention was needed to avoid a “risk of flight”.

All victims of Swiss ski resort bar fire now identified

Swiss police say more than half of the 40 people killed after a fire broke out at a bar in the Crans-Montana resort were teenagers.

Jessica Moretti will, however, remain free under judicial supervision, the statement said.

A recent report shows fire safety inspections had not been carried out in the bar since 2019.

Authorities are now also looking into whether soundproofing material on the ceiling conformed with regulations and whether the candles were permitted to be used in the bar.

Italy starts separate probe

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has confirmed that the Rome Prosecutor’s Office has started a separate probe.

“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,” Ms Meloni said during a press conference on Friday.

“Those responsible must be identified and prosecuted.”

Giorgia Meloni speaking into two microphones.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed that the Rome Prosecutor’s Office has started a separate probe. (Reuters: Remo Casilli)

Ms Meloni said the State Attorney General’s Office had contacted the Swiss Attorney General to follow the investigation.

“The families have my word that they will not be left alone while they seek justice,” she added.

Aussie teen loses friend in Swiss bar fire

Yaron Lavy, from Melbourne, says he had planned to join friends at the Le Constellation bar on New Year’s Eve but stopped to get water — a decision that may have saved his life.

An autopsy has been ordered for five of the six Italian victims and has been delegated to the prosecutors’ offices in Milan, Bologna, and Genoa, where the bodies of the victims have been returned.

The Paris prosecutor’s office also announced on Monday that it was opening a probe to assist the Swiss investigation and make it easier for families of French victims to communicate with Swiss investigators.

Nine French citizens were killed, the youngest of them aged 14, and 23 others were injured.

AP