Hundreds of people have attended special services for the victims of a fire that tore through a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
A Mass was organised on Sunday by the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches in the town, and on Saturday evening, a vigil was held by the Reformed Church.
Rev Dr Guy Liagre, the church’s pastor, told Premier more about the service:
“We had moments of silence, and then a prayer, and then again, a moment of silence. And all this was accompanied by piano music, very soft music when we prayed or when we read in English or in French, a poem, for example.”
Dr Liagre said everyone in the close-knit community had been affected by the tragedy.
“In our churches, a lot of people are also involved, in the sense that they have family members, friends and neighbours involved," he said.
"Because Montana is a small village where everybody knows everybody. But of course, in the wintertime, 10,000 or 15,000 people are coming to ski, and then, of course, it's another world.”
He added that as a pastor in times of tragedy, it’s his duty to listen and to understand that God doesn't protect us from tragedy:
“When Jesus died at the cross, He quoted this psalm ‘My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?’ And I think this is also one of the things we have to live ourselves…" he said.
“We have to say, ‘yes, we don't have answers’. We are questioning what happened, and we know that it's not God's will. It's just because people perhaps didn't do what they had to do to protect others.”
Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team arrived 2nd January and are among those providing emotional and spiritual care following the fire.
The charity's VP, Josh Holland, said it has been an "unimaginable loss".
“What unfolded in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Eve has left families and loved ones facing sudden and unimaginable loss…. this was meant to be a time of joy and new beginnings, but has instead become a season of grief," he said.
"Our chaplains will come alongside those who are hurting—to listen, to pray, and to offer the hope and compassion of Christ when it’s needed most.”
Chaplains are also working in schools to help pupils come to terms with what happened.
All 40 of the dead have now been identified - the youngest was just 14 years old.
Many of the 120 people injured sustained severe burns.