Authorities in the Swiss alpine resort of Crans-Montana have revealed that a nightclub where a catastrophic fire claimed 40 lives and injured 116 people had not undergone mandatory safety inspections for five years. The devastating blaze, believed to have been ignited by sparklers during a celebration, has exposed critical gaps in the region’s safety enforcement system.
Mayor Nicolas Feraud addressed journalists during a emotionally charged press conference on Tuesday, expressing profound regret over the institutional failure. “We regret that – we owe it to the families and we will accept the responsibility,” Feraud stated, though he conceded he could provide no immediate explanation for the five-year inspection gap at La Constellation bar.
The tragedy has prompted immediate regulatory changes, with local authorities announcing a complete ban on sparklers in all entertainment venues. Additionally, the municipality has commissioned an external contractor to conduct comprehensive safety audits across all 128 entertainment establishments in the region.
Feraud contextualized the oversight by explaining administrative challenges following a 2016 merger of four village councils into the larger Crans-Montana authority. The current five-person inspection team remains responsible for monitoring over 10,000 buildings across the expanded jurisdiction.
Despite mounting pressure, the mayor confirmed he has no intention of resigning, stating “I’m not resigning, no, and I don’t want to.” The matter now moves to the judicial realm, with Swiss prosecutors having opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire.