Swiss Bar Fire survivor awakens after 18 days in coma, detailing horrific events, casualties, and aftermath of the Le Constellation tragedy.
On New Year’s Day this year, a devastating fire broke out at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana, Valais, Switzerland. The fire claimed 40 lives and injured over 100 people. Families celebrating together found themselves mourning loved ones instead.
A few days ago, 18-year-old survivor Roze woke up from an 18-day coma. She shared her terrifying experience with the media, recalling the events of that night. 
The Night of the Fire
At around 1:15 a.m. on January 1st, Roze and her friend Nouran arrived at the Le Constellation bar. The New Year’s celebration was in full swing. The two girls were tasked by the bar owner to take photos and videos for promotional purposes.
While filming in the bar’s basement, Roze noticed the crowd’s excitement. Servers performed stunts: one wore a helmet and rode on a colleague’s shoulders, delivering champagne to high-paying guests. Fireworks were placed in bottles, surrounded by cheering customers. Then, disaster struck.
“I remember turning my head and suddenly seeing the ceiling on fire,” Roze recalled.
She ran upstairs searching for Nouran while shouting, “Fire! Fire!” Chaos erupted as everyone rushed toward the exit. People pushed and shoved, and Roze, like many others, fell to the ground. She struggled to stand and found a broken window to escape. She helped move fallen bodies blocking the exit and finally located Nouran, who was severely injured.
Roze’s hands were badly burned, preventing her from calling for help. On the street, she asked a driver to call her friend’s mother, who rushed them to a local hospital. After that, Roze lost all memory of the following days.
Hospitalization and Recovery
Roze suffered severe third-degree burns and was transferred to Liège University Hospital in Belgium for treatment. She remained in a medically induced coma for 18 days. Upon awakening, the trauma followed her like an inescapable nightmare.
“I’m afraid to sleep alone,” she said.
“I fear the nightmares repeating themselves.”
“Of course, I am grateful to be alive, but I constantly think of those who didn’t survive. It’s painful.”
She has undergone multiple surgeries and is still in recovery. She may need up to two years before regaining full use of her hands. Her parents must assist with daily activities, including eating and using the bathroom.
Nouran’s condition is even more critical. She will require at least two months of sedation. Eighty percent of her body suffered burns, and her survival remains uncertain.
Fire Causes and Responsibility
Investigations revealed that the fire started when fireworks inserted in bottles ignited acoustic ceiling foam. The fire spread rapidly, and evacuation routes were inadequate. The basement stairway, the only exit, was too narrow, creating dangerous congestion.
Bar owners Jacques Moretti (49) and Jessica Moretti (40) face charges of involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and negligent arson. Authorities consider them a flight risk, and they remain under judicial supervision.
Leaked police interrogation records indicate the couple attempted to shift blame onto a deceased bar server, Cyane Panine.
“They repeatedly told the prosecutors: ‘It wasn’t us, it was someone else,’” the records state.
The Tragic Role of Cyane Panine
Cyane, 24, was holding bottles with fireworks and riding a colleague’s shoulders during the performance captured on video. Jacques Moretti knew about the act and referred to it as “Cyane’s performance.”
“I didn’t prohibit her from doing it,” Jacques said.
“I didn’t emphasize safety instructions. She enjoyed performing; it was part of the act.”
Jessica Moretti echoed this at a hearing on January 20th, stating that Cyane “voluntarily participated in the stunt.”
Disputes Over Responsibility
Cyane’s parents and eyewitnesses strongly denied the bar owners’ claims. The family stated that their daughter had been used as a scapegoat and unfairly branded as the symbol of the tragedy.
Cyane had come to Crans-Montana for seasonal work in late November and was transferred to Le Constellation on December 31. She spent most of the evening on the first floor, greeting guests and guiding them to tables.
The bar, originally a café, had been renovated in 2015. Basement stairs were narrowed from three meters to one meter.
On the night of the fire, Cyane was asked to assist with numerous champagne orders in the basement. The bar’s music blared, obscuring the fire’s early signs. Cyane’s helmet prevented her from noticing the sparks reaching the ceiling foam.
Photos captured Jessica standing behind the crowd as the ceiling ignited. Patrons missed the optimal escape window, causing dangerous bottlenecks. Other exits were locked. Cyane succumbed to smoke inhalation at the doorway.
Her parents claim that the exits were intentionally locked by the owners to prevent unpaid entry.
Legal and Moral Implications
Jacques and Jessica Moretti’s defense included claims of untrained staff and locking exits by others. They repeatedly denied personal responsibility, despite clear evidence.
Regardless of the investigation’s outcome, the couple cannot escape accountability for the disaster at Le Constellation.
