No safety inspections were carried out since 2019 at the Swiss bar that burst into flames at New Year, killing 40 people, the mayor of the town of Crans-Montana said on Tuesday.

“We are profoundly sorry. We did not have an indication that the checks had not been done,” Crans-Montana Mayor Nicolas Feraud told reporters on the absence of fire checks between 2020 and 2025.

The mayor added that the soundproof foam used in the bar “Le Constellation” was considered acceptable at the time.

Prosecutors have said that the fire that spread rapidly in the early hours of January 1 was likely caused by sparkling candles igniting the ceiling of the bar’s basement.

All sparkler candles have now been banned inside venues, said the mayor at the press conference.