 "People weep outside the \"Le Constellation\" bar, after a fire and explosion during a New Year’s Eve party where several people died and others were injured, according to Swiss police, in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland. Reuters")
Authorities in Crans‑Montana, Switzerland, have admitted that no safety inspections were carried out at the bar where a deadly New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people, despite annual checks being legally required, local officials said at a press conference.
Crans‑Montana’s mayor, Nicolas Feraud, offered a public apology, saying, “We are profoundly sorry. We did not have an indication that the checks had not been done,” when asked about the lack of inspections between 2020 and 2025.
How the fire started
The fire tore through the basement of the Le Constellation bar in the early hours of January 1, injuring more than 100 people and killing 40 who were celebrating with friends and family. Investigators believe the fire began when sparkler candles on champagne bottles ignited highly flammable sound‑proofing foam on the ceiling.
In response, the town has now banned sparklers and other pyrotechnics from all indoor venues.
Feraud explained that the last fire safety inspection, in 2019, had found the venue compliant, with its foam ceiling deemed acceptable at the time and no fire alarm required due to the bar’s size. But after consulting official records following the tragedy, town officials found out the venue had not received the annual inspections mandated under local rules for the past five years.
The mayor’s comments have caused immense public anger, with critics questioning how regular checks could have been missed in a country known for strict safety standards. Prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into the bar’s owners on suspicion of negligent homicide and other offences. Police have said they do not currently see a risk of flight and have not arrested the operators, though a second bar run by the same people has been closed.
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View AllAuthorities also acknowledged that a team of just a few inspectors is responsible for tens of thousands of buildings in the resort, raising questions about enforcement capacity. The municipality says it has now commissioned external experts to carry out safety audits across the area to prevent a similar tragedy.