France, Jan. 3 -- French couple Jacques and Jessica Moretti owned and managed the Le Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana, which was crammed with young New Year's revellers when a blaze began at around 1:30 am on Thursday.

Forty people were killed and 119 injured, most of them seriously, according to the latest toll.

"A criminal investigation was opened last night against the two managers of the bar," police and the public prosecutor's office in the southwestern Swiss canton of Wallis said in a statement.

"They are charged with manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence."

The authorities recalled that "the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is handed down".

Tears and stunned sil...