Switzerland falls silent to remember the 40 dead

SWITZERLAND held a memorial service yesterday, as part of a national day of mourning to honour the 40 people who were killed in an Alpine bar fire earlier this month during a New Year's celebration.

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An additional 116 people were injured, many seriously, when the fire broke out less than two hours after midnight at the Le Constellation bar on January 1.

Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire in the resort town of Crans-Montana when they came too close to the ceiling.