Six Dead After Bus Fire in Swiss Town as Police Probe Cause

By Blessing Nweke

At least six people have died and several others were injured after a bus caught fire in the town of Kerzers in western Switzerland, authorities said on Tuesday evening.

The blaze broke out at around 18:25 local time in the center of the town, known in French as Chiètres, located in the canton of Fribourg about 20km (12 miles) from the Swiss capital, Bern.

Police said emergency services rushed to the scene after reports that a bus had caught fire with passengers inside. By the time firefighters brought the blaze under control, at least six people had died. Authorities also confirmed that at least three injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Local media reports indicated that a rescuer was among those hurt while responding to the emergency, though officials have not yet released further details about the extent of the injuries.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, and investigators have launched a probe to determine what triggered the deadly incident. Authorities said they are examining the possibility that the blaze may have been deliberately started, though they cautioned that the circumstances are still under investigation.

Some early reports suggested that a person may have doused themselves with gasoline before the fire erupted, but police said they could not immediately confirm those claims.

Video footage shared by local media showed the bus fully engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising above nearby buildings. A resident told reporters they saw a large column of dark smoke from a distance before emergency crews arrived.

The bus was reportedly traveling from the nearby municipality of Düdingen, located about 17km south of Kerzers.

Authorities are continuing to gather information as the investigation into the tragedy unfolds.