A memorial for the victims of the deadly New Year's fire in Switzerland itself caught fire early today, police said, adding they were investigating what sparked the blaze.
The fire that erupted at the bar, Le Constellation, in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana in the early hours of 1 January killed 41 people and injured 115, mainly teenagers and young adults.
A makeshift memorial, laden with flowers, candles and messages of condolence set up near the site of the tragedy, caught alight around 6am (5am Irish time) today, regional police said in a statement.
"Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control," Wallis police said on X.
They said an investigation had been opened into what caused the blaze at the memorial, which long sat right in front of the burned-out bar but had recently been moved a bit further away.
Images broadcast by Swiss public broadcaster RTS today showed the blackened top of white tarpaulin, erected over the memorial to protect it from the weather, visible behind a white screen and police tape.
Those killed in the New Year disaster were aged 14 to 39, but the majority were teenagers. Only four were aged over 24.
Public prosecutors believe the fire started when revellers raised champagne bottles, with sparklers attached, too close to sound insulation foam on the ceiling of the bar.
Four people are currently under criminal investigation: the bar's co-owners; the Crans-Montana municipality's current head of public safety; and a former Crans-Montana fire safety officer.
