Switzerland will pay victims of the deadly bar fire in the Crans-Montana ski resort a “solidarity c
ontribution” of 50,000 fran
cs ($64,500) after the gove
rnment concluded that the current support system for the affected is insufficient.
The sum will be paid out to everyone hospitalized as a result of the blaze and the relatives of those who died. Forty-one people died and more than 100 were inju
red in the fire, which took plac
e during a New Year’s party in the Alpine town. The federal payment is in addition to 10,000 francs being paid by the canton of Valais.
“The Federal Council considers this an important sign of social solidarity and an expres
sion of the federal government’s sympathy,” the government said Wednesday. The money is inten
ded to give “rapid and unbureaucratic support, help bridge acute financial difficulties and provide short-term relief.”
It added that the system of victim support, as well as public and private insurance, is desig
ned for individual cases and “is reaching its limits facing an event with a high number of casualties.”
Watch More Image Part 2 >>>
The administration will also convene a roundtable of victims, insurers and authorities to find an
out-of-court compensation solution for those affected so they can avoid lengthy le
gal battles. The government could contribute up to 20 million francs to these out-of-court
settlements if a solution is found, it said.
But Justice Minister Beat Jans said that responsible insurers are still obliged to pay out ins
ured sums, and any government assistance would be supplementary.
Local Swiss authorities in Valais have questioned the managers of the bar and local faced cri
ticism for their handling of the investigation following the incident. Following protests from Italy, S
wiss prosecutors have agreed to cooperate with their Italian counterparts in the probe.