Six dead and five injured in ‘deliberate’ Swiss bus fire
Six Fatalities and Five Injured in Alleged Deliberate Swiss Bus Fire
Authorities confirmed the fire occurred in Kerzers, a western Fribourg canton town, around 6:25 PM on Tuesday. At least six individuals lost their lives in the incident, though identities of the victims remain pending.
Emergency services reported five people injured, with one of them being a responder. Three of these casualties were hospitalized in critical condition. The extent of additional harm is unclear, as officials noted the exact number of passengers onboard at the time of the fire is yet to be determined.
Witness Account Points to Intentional Ignition
A video shared with Swiss newspaper Blick claimed a man inside the bus “poured out petrol and set himself alight.” This testimony was supported by other observers, according to the report. The fire completely consumed the vehicle, leaving no visible remnants.
“The background is being clarified. To the relatives of the deceased from Kerzers, I extend my condolences. And I think of the injured & the emergency services.”
“We have information that a person is the cause of the fire.”
While police suspect the blaze was an “arsonistic act,” they have not definitively confirmed the claim. A second official stated the fire might have been “deliberately” ignited and hinted that the accused could be among the casualties.
Investigations are ongoing, with officials considering the possibility of a terror attack. The scene is cordoned off, and residents are advised to stay away from the area. Barriers now block view of the damaged bus.
Recent Tragedy Echoes Earlier Disaster
The incident follows a deadly bar fire in Crans-Montana, which claimed 41 lives and injured 115 people on 1 January. Most of the fatalities were teenagers, many of whom were foreign nationals, including several from France and Italy.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed sorrow over the event, posting on X: “It distresses and saddens me that yet more people in Switzerland have lost their lives in a serious fire.”
Schweizerische Post, the bus operator, conveyed its condolences in a statement to Der Bund: “Our thoughts are with the injured and the families of the deceased.”
