Swiss authorities have admitted failing to carry out fire and safety checks at a bar where a deadly blaze killed 40 people.

"Periodic inspections were not conducted between 2020 and 2025. We bitterly regret this," Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud told a press conference on Tuesday in the Alpine ski resort.

Fire safety inspections were supposed to be carried out annually.

Investigators believe the New Year’s blaze began when sparkling candles on Champagne bottles ignited material near the ceiling.

The council said it would hire an outside expert to check all public places, while also banning pyrotechnics, like sparklers, inside enclosed spaces.

What are Swiss investigators looking into?

Swiss authorities have launched a criminal probe into the bar managers, who are suspected of involuntary homicide, bodily harm, and causing a fire. The two have not been arrested.

Authorities have also revoked the operating license for a second restaurant owned by the same group in Crans-Montana.

In addition to the 40 deaths, 116 people were injured, 83 of whom remain hospitalized. The average age of the victims was 19.

Switzerland will hold a national day of mourning on Friday.

Edited by: Wesley Rahn