A candlelit memorial honouring the victims of theSwiss bar blaze that killed 41 peoplecaught fire.
Swiss police said they were investigating after the makeshift tribute, set up near the site of the bar tragedy in the ski resort town ofCrans-Montana, went up in flames shortly before 6am on Sunday.
Images show a blackened, scorched tent which had been erected to protect the flowers, stuffed animals and messages placed by mourners sincethe New Year's Eve tragedy.
Firefighters were able to bring the flames under control and no injuries were reported. Police said the fire was probably caused by candles.
"According to initial reports, the fire started near the candles placed on a table in the centre of the memorial," said a police statement.
"At this stage, third-party involvement can be ruled out."
Police say a book of condolences survived the fire.
Forty people, mostly teenagers and young adults, died in the New Year's Eve blaze thatbroke out shortly after midnightat Le Constellation bar. The fire claimed its 41st victim, an 18-year-old Swiss national, who died in a Zurich hospital from his injuries a month later.
Half of the victims who died in the blaze were under 18, while some were as young as 14. Some 116 people were taken to hospital, many with serious burn injuries.
Crans-Montana, which is 120 miles east of Geneva, is a high-end ski resort town popular with international tourists.
The list of injured includes nationals from Switzerland, France, Italy, Serbia, Poland, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal and the Republic of the Congo.
Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French owners of the bar, areunder investigation for involuntary homicide, involuntary bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence. They deny wrongdoing.
Credit: Reuters
Investigators will examinethe couple's maintenance of the barand compliance with fire safety standards, including the number of emergency exits, the number of fire extinguishers, and whether or not the ceiling foam conformed with regulations.
The town's head of public safety and former fire safety officer are alsounder criminal investigationafter it emerged that the bar had not undergone mandatory annual fire inspections since 2019. They deny wrongdoing.
Police said reconstruction of the memorial is under way.
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