Switzerland said on Wednesday (25 February) it would make a one-off payment of 50,000 Swiss francs ($56,000) to each severely injured survivor and to the bereaved families of those killed in the New Year bar fire at the ski resort of Crans-Montana.
The so-called “solidarity contribution” is intended to provide swift financial support to victims and to serve as a gesture of compassion, the Federal Council said in a statement.
In principle, the payment will apply to the family of each person who lost their life, as well as to every individual who was hospitalised as a result of the blaze.
“The Federal Council shares the victims’ and their families’ desire for truth and justice,” Swiss President Guy Parmelin told a press conference.
“We too want to know what happened, why it happened and how it could have been prevented.”
Witnesses and prosecutors said the fire appeared to have been caused by sparkling candles that ignited foam soundproofing on the bar’s basement ceiling.
In total, the federal government will provide 7.8 million francs for 156 people most severely affected by the fire, Justice Minister Beat Jans said. The sum will complement aid from the resort’s home canton of Valais, which has pledged 10 million francs to a foundation set up to support the victims.
Swiss authorities said 41 people died in the fire and 115 people were injured. Most of those who died were teenagers, and many of the victims were foreign nationals, including several from France and Italy.
The Federal Council said it will convene a roundtable to help victims, insurers and authorities reach out-of-court settlements, potentially avoiding lengthy legal battles. Up to 20 million francs has been allocated for this purpose.
The government also plans to allocate a further 8.5 million francs to assist affected cantons with extraordinary costs.
The measures follow an analysis by the Federal Office of Justice, which identified gaps in existing support systems. These systems, primarily designed for individual cases, have struggled to cope with large-scale disasters.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over t...
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investi...
The suspension of two major grain terminals in Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk could increase pressure on Kazakhstan’s agricult...
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12th of August, covering the latest developments.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday for talks focused on Gaza, Palestinian statehood and regional security.
Taiwan staged military defence drills on Wednesday as China concluded joint naval exercises with Indonesia in waters east of the island.
Washington’s counter-narcotics push is expanding as Colombia’s new conservative government backs deeper security cooperation.
Meta said it had removed more than 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the country’s internet regulator weighs enforcement action over its teen social media ban.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment