No safety inspections at site of Swiss bar fire since 2019: Crans-Montana Mayor

Geneva: No safety inspections ​were carried out since 2019 at ‌the Swiss bar ⁠that burst ‌into flames at New Year, killing 40 people, the mayor of the town of Crans-Montana ​said on Tuesday.

"We are profoundly sorry. We did not have an indication that the ‌checks ‌had not been done," Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud told ⁠reporters on the absence of fire checks between 2020-2025.

The mayor added that ⁠the sound-proof foam ⁠used in the bar "Le Constellation" ‌was considered acceptable ‌at the time.

Prosecutors have said that the fire that spread rapidly in ‍the early hours of January 1 was likely caused by sparkling candles igniting the ceiling of the bar's basement.

All sparkler candles have now been banned inside venues, said ​the mayor ‌at the press conference.