Le Constellation, a bar in Crans‑Montana where dozens died in a New Year’s Eve blaze, had not undergone a fire inspection since 2020, officials said Tuesday. Crans‑Montana council president Nicolas Féraud expressed the council’s regret and said it would accept any legal responsibility assigned by the justice system. The discovery has prompted investigations and raised broader questions about enforcement and safety oversight in the resort.
Swiss Bar Where Dozens Died Hadn't Received Fire Inspection Since 2020, Officials Say
This photograph shows the entrance of the bar Le Constellation where a fire ripped through the venue in the Alpine ski resort town of Crans-Montana killing 40 people and injuring more than 100 others. - Maxime Schmid/AFP/Getty Images
Le Constellation, the bar in the alpine resort of Crans‑Montana where dozens of people were killed in a New Year’s Eve fire, had not received a fire safety inspection since 2020, local authorities said Tuesday.
Nicolas Féraud, president of the Crans‑Montana council, told journalists at a press conference that the council “bitterly regrets” the discovery of the lapse. He added:
“We will shoulder all the responsibility that the justice system attributes to us.”
Investigation and Oversight Questions
Officials said the absence of recent inspections raises serious questions about enforcement and oversight in the municipality. Authorities have opened inquiries and investigations are ongoing to determine how the lapse occurred and whether regulatory failures contributed to the tragedy.
Local and national authorities are coordinating with investigators and emergency services as the legal process proceeds. Families of victims, survivors and the wider public continue to seek answers about safety practices at the venue and across the resort.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
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