A bus fire in the Swiss town of Kerzers killed at least six people and injured several others. Investigators say early indications point to a possible deliberate act.
Police are investigating if a deliberate act caused a bus fire in western Switzerland that killed at least six people and injured several others on Tuesday.
The bus caught fire around 6:25 pm (1725 GMT) on the main street of the town of Kerzers in Fribourg canton, about 20 km (12 miles) west of Bern.
When emergency services arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames and firefighters had to step in to put out the blaze.
“At this stage, we have elements suggesting deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus,” Frederic Papaux, a spokesperson for Fribourg police, said, adding that no other vehicle was involved.
The fire “left at least six dead and five injured, three of them seriously”, Papaux said.
President expresses shock
Three injured people were taken to hospital, while two others were treated at the scene.
Authorities said panicked passengers were seen escaping the burning vehicle.
Police have opened a criminal investigation and appealed for witnesses to come forward as they seek to determine the cause of the fire.
The bus involved was a distinctive yellow PostBus, which serves remote areas in Switzerland and is affiliated with the national postal service.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his shock and offered his condolences to the families of the victims, adding that the “circumstances are being investigated.”
This is the second major incident of deadly fire in Switzerland this year after a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana caught fire in the early hours of January 1 killing 41 people died and injuring 115.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko
DW News
