The Swiss canton of Valais has banned pyrotechnic devices in all indoor public venues following the devastating fire at a bar on New Year's Eve where 40 people were killed and 116 were injured.
Authorities said each of the victims would receive a 10,000 franc ($12,500; £9,200) emergency payment, with a fund being established to collect donations.
Moreover, the canton of Geneva has also announced a ban on pyrotechnics in indoor venues, shortly after Vaud became the first of Switzerland's 26 regions to implement such a decision.
The blaze at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana is believed to have started when sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited sound-insulating foam padding on the ceiling.
Authorities admitted that the bar had not undergone safety inspections for five years during the investigation. The two co-owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, have been charged with manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Jacques Moretti is currently in custody for 90 days, while his wife is required to report to police daily and has surrendered her passport.
Many of the victims' families are expressing shock at the bar's lack of safety checks, with eight deceased being under the age of 16. The incident has left numerous individuals in critical condition, and 80 remain in hospitals across Switzerland and Europe. A platform has been launched to collect testimonies related to the tragic event, aimed at supporting the investigation.
Among the victims was a waitress, identified as 24-year-old Cyane Panine, who was purportedly following management's instructions when the fire broke out. Her family exclaims that she bears no responsibility for the tragic occurrence.
