Swiss local authorities admit they failed to conduct fire and safety inspections for a number of years at a bar where 40 died on New Year's eve.

116 others were injured after a blaze broke out at the Bar Le Constellation venue in the ski resort town of Crans Montana.

The municipality of Crans-Montana says it "deeply regrets" discovering a failure to carry out inspections since 2020.

The local mayor says all sparkler candles, which were blamed for the fire, have now been banned from being lit inside venues.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Mayor Nicholas Feraud, said no checks were carried out at the bar for a number of years.

"Between 2020 and 2025, there hasn't been any checks, any investigation, or any auditing surrounding 'Bar Le Constellation' for five years.

"We're presenting that to the ministry. We're regretting that, we owe it to the family and we will accept the responsibility".

People gather during a memorial procession in Crans-Montana, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, after a devastating fire in Le Constellation bar left dead and injured during the New Year's celebrations. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Mr Feraud says a specialist external agency will be commissioned to carry out inspections of all public establishments.

The local authority also said it remains "fully committed to supporting the victims of this tragedy, their families and loved ones, and will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again".