Six Dead In Suspected Deliberate Bus Fire In Switzerland

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

KERZERS, SWITZERLAND (Worthy News) – At least six people were killed and five others injured after a passenger bus burst into flames in western Switzerland, with authorities saying the blaze may have been deliberately set.

The fire broke out Tuesday evening in the town of Kerzers, about 20–25 kilometers (12–16 miles) west of the Swiss capital Bern, in the canton (state) of Fribourg, police said.

Flames several meters (yards) high engulfed the vehicle within minutes, and firefighters arrived to find the bus largely destroyed, according to Swiss media and emergency officials.

POSSIBLE DELIBERATE ACT

Fribourg cantonal police said at least six people died and five others were injured, several of them seriously.

Authorities indicated the fire may have been a deliberate act, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

Police declined to comment on possible scenarios, including whether the blaze could be linked to suicide or terrorism.

Local media reported that eyewitnesses claimed a man poured petrol over himself before the fire erupted, but officials have not confirmed those accounts.

POSTAL BUS DESTROYED

The vehicle involved was a so-called PostBus, part of Switzerland’s well-known regional transport system operated by the national postal service.

These buses carry passengers as well as mail and parcels and have been a familiar sight in Switzerland for more than a century, recognizable by their distinctive yellow color.

Emergency services, including ambulances and helicopters, transported several injured passengers to hospitals as investigators examined the scene.

Authorities said prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.

COUNTRY STILL REELING FROM BAR FIRE

The tragedy comes as Switzerland is still reeling from a devastating New Year’s bar fire that shocked the nation and much of Europe.

Lawmakers in the Swiss lower house of parliament have approved a one-time payment of 50,000 Swiss francs (about $64,000) to survivors and families of victims of the blaze at the Le Constellation bar in the ski resort town of Crans-Montana.

The fire killed 41 people and injured 115, many of them teenagers and foreign visitors, including several from France and Italy.

Authorities believe the blaze may have started when sparkling candles ignited foam soundproofing on the bar’s ceiling. Prosecutors have expanded their investigation to include several local officials, among them the town’s mayor.

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