At least six people have died and several others were injured after a bus caught fire in western Switzerland, prompting an emergency response and a major investigation by local authorities.
Police say the incident occurred around 18:25 local time on Tuesday in the centre of Kerzers, also known by its French name Chiètres. The town lies roughly 20 kilometres from Bern, the country’s capital.
Emergency services confirmed that at least three people were transported to hospital following the blaze, while reports indicate that one rescuer may also have been injured during the response.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fire, but investigators are examining the possibility that it may have been deliberately started.
Local media footage showed the bus engulfed in flames, with witnesses describing a thick column of smoke rising above the town centre. The vehicle involved had reportedly travelled from the nearby municipality of Düdingen, located about 17 kilometres south of Kerzers.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that an individual may have doused themselves with gasoline before the fire started, though officials said they could not immediately verify those claims.
Reacting to the tragedy, Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed shock and sadness in a statement posted on social media, saying it was devastating that lives had been lost in the fire.
The incident comes just months after another deadly blaze in Switzerland, when 41 people were killed in a fire at a ski resort during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
