The mayor of Crans-Montana has admitted that safety inspections at the bar where a New Year's Eve fire killed 40 people had not been conducted for five years, despite being required by law. Nicolas Féraud told a press conference that the municipality 'bitterly regrets' the failure to inspect Le Constellation bar between 2020 and 2025.
Authorities believe the fire started in the basement party room after sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to soundproofing foam on the ceiling. The blaze killed 40 people, mostly young partygoers, and injured over 100 others. The victims included 21 Swiss nationals, nine French, six Italians, and one each from Belgium, Portugal, Romania and Turkey.
Romain Jordan, a lawyer representing several victims' families, said they were shocked by the admission. 'The staggering number of breaches and shortcomings in the inspections raises the question of whether the municipality should be investigated with even greater urgency,' he said. Another lawyer, Sébastien Fanti, called it 'essential' that the council accept responsibility, noting that Le Constellation was one of the five highest-risk locations in the municipality.
Mayor Féraud said he had 'no answer' as to why the bar, renovated in 2015, had not been inspected annually, but noted that a team of five safety officers was responsible for checking over 10,000 buildings. He said he and his fellow councillors would not resign, as they were 'elected by the people of Crans-Montana' and would not 'jump ship now'.
The bar's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are under investigation on suspicion of homicide by negligence. They issued a statement saying they were 'devastated and overwhelmed with grief' and would 'in no way seek to shirk their responsibilities'. The municipality has joined the criminal proceedings as a civil party to help establish the facts.
