San Francisco Frontiers - Concert pays tribute to Swiss fire disaster victims

The concert brought together the families of victims and some of those who survived the fire, which erupted at a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana in the early hours of January 1.

Most of those killed in disaster at Le Constellation bar were teenagers, while 115 people were injured.

At the concert, staged at the Salle Metropole theatre in Lausanne, the performing artists came onto the stage to a song written about the tragedy called "Etoile de nos coeurs" ("Star of our Hearts"), and lined up holding white roses.

Beforehand, the families of the victims gathered in the foyer. There were hugs, smiles and some tears.

"It's about solidarity. To all the victims, up there or here on Earth, it means one thing: we haven't forgotten you," Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur was among those killed, told AFP.

"We're in survival mode. Half of our hearts have been ripped away," she added.

"It keeps alive the memory of all those who were hurt, both physically and emotionally."

Tickets cost from 90 Swiss francs ($115), with the proceeds going towards Swisshearts -- an association founded by parents affected by the disaster.

The participating artists -- performing for free -- included Gjon's Tears, who finished third for Switzerland at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.

"There were a lot of young people, and even today, four months later, they find it hard to talk about it," the singer told AFP.

"These were young people who just wanted to party and have fun.

"Being close in age to the majority of the victims... I think we can relate to it," the 27-year-old said.

Also on the bill was the veteran Italian singer Richard Cocciante.

"We need to think about the people who are no longer here," the 80-year-old told AFP, adding that music "certainly helps; I don't know if it can heal, but it helps".

- 38 still in hospitals, clinics -

A total of 13 people are under criminal investigation in connection with the disaster, including the bar's owners and several current and former local officials.

The fire hit the Lausanne region hard.

Several of those killed were from the suburb of Lutry. Its football team lost seven players in the fire, with more injured in the disaster.

For many survivors badly burned in the fire, the journey towards resuming a normal life, where possible, is far from over, with lengthy hospital treatment followed by spells in rehabilitation and readaptation clinics.

Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Protection told AFP on Wednesday that 38 patients were still in hospitals and clinics, including 19 in neighbouring countries.

M.Powell--SFF