A deadly bus fire in Switzerland has left six people dead and several others injured after a blaze engulfed a regional passenger vehicle in the canton of Fribourg, in the center of the country.
The incident happened late Monday in the town of Kerzers (Chiètres), about 25 kilometres west of the Swiss capital Bern. The vehicle was operated by PostBus Switzerland, the nationwide bus network run by Swiss Post.
Emergency services responded after reports that the bus had caught fire while carrying passengers on a scheduled route. When firefighters arrived, the vehicle was already fully ablaze.
Authorities confirmed that six people died in the incident. Several other passengers were injured, including some seriously, and were taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue helicopters and multiple ambulances were deployed to the scene. Police from the canton of Fribourg have opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Initial indications suggest the blaze may have been started deliberately by a person on board, although officials have not yet confirmed the exact circumstances. Investigators are examining the remains of the bus and interviewing witnesses.
Authorities say further information will be released as the investigation progresses. Switzerland already made headlines on January 1st, when a massive New Year’s Eve fire killed 40 people and injured dozens in the resort city of Crans-Montana.
