Andorra Inspects 39 Nightlife Venues After Swiss Club Fire

Andorra's fire service has completed inspections of 39 nightlife venues across the country, from Andorra la Vella to Pas de la Casa, including sites in the northern and eastern valleys. The checks, which started on Thursday, January 8, and ended last Friday, focused on fire prevention protocols, equipment, and related safety measures.

The initiative followed a fatal New Year's Eve fire at a Crans-Montana nightclub in Switzerland, where flares ignited the ceiling, killing dozens. Fire officials noted strong collaboration from venue owners and managers, who received the inspections positively amid increased sensitivity to the issue. Many establishments had already banned pyrotechnic products on their own initiative, replacing traditional flares with LED versions to maintain festive atmospheres while cutting risks.

Bombers d'Andorra described the "great acceptance" of the action in a social media update, with operators viewing it as a welcome step. In parallel, the fire service and Industrial Safety Department are preparing regulations to govern or outright prohibit flares in nightclubs and other enclosed spaces. Government spokesperson Guillem Casal confirmed during a January 7 press conference after the Council of Ministers meeting that work had resumed to update Andorra's 1978 fire prevention rules for public establishments.