On Tuesday afternoon, a Postbus used for public transportation caught fire in the city center of Kerzers, Fribourg, Switzerland, resulting in 6 deaths and 5 injuries.
The fire broke out around 6:25 p.m. on Tuesday at Murtengasse in Kerzers, as reported by the police in Fribourg, western Switzerland.
Local media released shocking photos and videos from the scene, showing the bus completely engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing into the air.
Authorities have cordoned off the area and warned residents to stay away.
Reports indicated that when rescue personnel arrived at the scene, the bus was reduced to a charred shell.
Multiple local media outlets covered the incident before it was officially confirmed by the state police. The authorities stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
One of the injured individuals was airlifted to a hospital. The accident site has been closed to the public, with authorities urging people not to approach.
At a press conference, the Fribourg police stated that at least 6 people had died, with 4 passengers injured. Additionally, one medical staff member was also injured, with 3 of the injured individuals said to be in critical condition.
The bus involved in the incident belongs to the Swiss PostBus network, providing public transportation services nationwide to small towns and rural areas in Switzerland.
Authorities mentioned that investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. The identities of the deceased are still being confirmed, and related procedures have been initiated.
This fire incident comes just over two months after another deadly fire in Switzerland. On January 1, a fire at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana resulted in 41 deaths and 116 injuries.
During a press conference, the prosecutor’s office suggested that this fire may have been an act of arson, with indications of potential involvement of only one person. The fire seems to have been caused intentionally or through human error.
The police stated that the bus was traveling from Düdingen to Kerzers when the fire occurred.
The exact number of passengers on the bus at the time of the incident has not been disclosed by the police.
Authorities mentioned that the investigation is ongoing to determine the sequence of events and the motive behind the incident. Police have called for potential witnesses to come forward.
During the press conference, a police spokesperson, when asked by reporters, mentioned that it is currently unclear whether this was a terrorist attack.
According to a report by Swiss news media Blick, a video from the scene shows a man covered in cigarette ash speaking in Albanian, claiming that someone on the bus poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire. Other witnesses provided similar accounts to the media, but these reports have not been confirmed by the police.