Summary
A Swiss ski bar caught fire, killing 40 people and injuring 116. The bar had not undergone safety inspections for five years. Local authorities plan to hire an outside contractor to inspect all venues in the area.
Key Facts
- A fire at the La Constellation bar in Crans-Montana killed 40 people and injured 116.
- The bar had not been inspected for safety checks in five years.
- The mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Feraud, expressed regret and accepted responsibility on behalf of the council.
- Sparklers, believed to have caused the fire, will be banned in local venues.
- An external contractor will inspect and audit all 128 venues in the area.
- There is a team of five inspectors responsible for over 10,000 buildings in the area.
- In 2016, four smaller village councils merged into the larger Crans-Montana authority.
- Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the incident.
