At least six people lost their lives after a bus caught fire in western Switzerland, in what authorities believe may have been a deliberate act.
However, police say there is currently no indication that the incident was linked to terrorism, Eko Hot Blog reports.
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The blaze broke out on Tuesday evening around 6:25 p.m. in the town of Kerzers, located about 20 kilometers west of Bern, the capital of Switzerland.
Eyewitness videos posted online showed large flames shooting from the vehicle’s windows while thick black smoke filled the air.
According to officials from the Fribourg Canton police, the evidence gathered so far suggests the fire was intentionally started.
Speaking to the Swiss broadcaster RTS, police communications chief Martial Pugin said investigators currently believe the fire was likely deliberate but emphasized that there is no proof it was carried out as a terrorist attack.
Emergency authorities reported that at least six people died in the incident, while five others were injured. Three of the injured victims were said to be in serious condition when they were taken to the hospital.
Police have not yet confirmed the exact number of passengers who were on the bus when the fire started.
Rescue teams, including several ambulances and a helicopter, were quickly deployed to the scene. Investigators worked throughout the night as firefighters dealt with the aftermath. Two of the injured victims remained in critical condition, while another person was later discharged from medical care after treatment.
By Wednesday morning, the burned remains of the bus had been removed from the road. Only traces of melted tar and the lingering smell of smoke were left at the site.
Authorities have opened a hotline for witnesses to provide information that may help determine how the fire began.
Prosecutors in Fribourg have launched a criminal investigation into the tragedy, and police scheduled a press briefing to provide further updates.
The incident comes less than three months after another deadly fire in Switzerland. On New Year’s Day, a blaze at a bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana killed 41 people and left more than 100 injured.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his condolences following the latest disaster, saying he was deeply saddened that lives had once again been lost in a serious fire.
He also extended sympathy to the families of the victims, the injured, and the emergency responders involved in the rescue effort.
The vehicle involved was part of PostBus, the well-known yellow bus network that connects rural communities across the country. The service is widely used by residents, including schoolchildren, and carries hundreds of thousands of passengers each day.
PostBus CEO Stefan Regli described the incident as a devastating tragedy, adding that employees across the organization were shocked by the loss of life.
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