Diplomatic intervention by Italy over exorbitant bills to wounded.
The Italian government was shocked by the exorbitant bills sent to injured people from the fatal fire in Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, with Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni declaring herself “shocked“.
The tragedy, which unfolded on New Year’s Eve in a resort bar, claimed the lives of 41 people, including six Italian teenagers, while 115 people were injured. The fire at Le Constellation bar was attributed, authorities said, to sparking candles that ignited soundproofing material in the venue’s ceiling.
Meloni reported that a hospital in Sion even claimed more than 70.000 euros for a few hours of hospitalisation, calling it an unacceptable development: “I was shocked by the news of bills totalling tens of thousands of euros sent by a Swiss hospital to the families of young people.”
The Italian prime minister announced that she has instructed the country’s ambassador in Bern to investigate the case immediately to ensure that the victims’ families are not financially burdened.
He said the Swiss authorities have already assured that it was a mistake and that the costs would be covered, but stressed that the Italian side would follow the matter closely: “It would be abhorrent such costs to be borne by the victims or by Italy“.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the cause of the tragedy is in full swing, with Swiss authorities investigating responsibility for manslaughter and causing a fire through negligence, while the local management of the resort has also been put under the microscope.
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