Switzerland Holds National Memorial For Victims Of Deadly Crans-Montana Fire

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, Jan 9 (KUNA) -- Switzerland on Friday held a national memorial ceremony to honor the victims of the deadly fire in tourist resort in (Crans-Montana) in the presence of several world leaders.
During the ceremony which took place in (Martigny) Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed the nation's solidarity with the victims' families and emphasized Switzerland's unity in the face of the tragedy.
The ceremony was also attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian President Sergio Mattarella and several European and international leaders.
Earlier this week the Swiss federal council declared a national day of mourning. Across the country a minute of silence was observed train services were halted at stations nationwide and church bells rang in cities and villages.
The United Nations Office in Geneva also announced that flags would be flown at half-mast in adherence to the national day of mourning declared by the Swiss government the host country of the UN headquarters as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragic fire.
The fatal fire which broke out on New Year's Eve in tourist resort in (Crans-Montana) killed 40 people most of them young people and teenagers aged between 14 and 39. A further 116 people were injured.
The Swiss government described the disaster as one of the "deadliest incidents in the country's modern history".
The deadly accident brought the public debate over safety standards and legal accountability in Switzerland.
According to local media investigations are ongoing into the owners of the ski resort, and one of the owners has been placed in custody following his interrogation. (end)
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