A devastating fire at a popular ski resort bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year's Eve has left 40 people dead and 116 injured. The fire is believed to have been caused by sparklers being carried too close to the ceiling, a preliminary investigation has found. But here's where it gets controversial: Swiss officials say the bar had not been checked for safety compliance in five years. The mayor of Crans-Montana, Nicolas Feraud, says the city council is working with the bar management to understand what happened and how. He also states that the council carries out reviews of establishments like bars every year, assessing fire risks and ensuring items like fire extinguishers are maintained. However, the law does not require inspections of noise-cancelling materials on the ceiling, which may have been a factor in this case. The mayor adds that the council wanted to be transparent about the lack of safety checks and is looking into why this happened, including a full audit of all venues in the area. The fire has sparked a criminal investigation by Swiss prosecutors, and the mayor says it's 'down to the judges to know whether we'll be part of this case or not'. The mayor also says he is not resigning, despite the tragedy. The bar, Le Constellation, was extended in 2015, and inspectors did assess the outdoor area, but they did not focus on the changes made inside the building. This has led to questions about the effectiveness of safety checks and the responsibility of local authorities. The incident has also prompted officials to ban all kinds of sparklers from local venues. As the investigation continues, the mayor has vowed to accept responsibility and 'owe it to the families' affected by the tragedy. The news conference, which you can watch live, will provide further updates and insights into the tragedy and the ongoing investigation.
