At least six people have been killed and five injured after a bus erupted in a massive blaze in Switzerland, police have said according to Swiss media.
The bus was “completely engulfed in flames” when firefighters arrived, police said in a statement, in what they suspect it may have been an act of deliberate arson.
The postal bus was travelling from Düdingen to Kerzers, in the Fribourg canton. and caught fire shortly before its final stop at around 6:25pm local time, around 12 miles west of Bern.
Footage of the scene shows a huge inferno tearing through a yellow bus, leaving just a charred shell of the vehicle after the fire had been put out.
The bus was left as a charred shell after the huge fire in Kerzers, in the Fribourg Canton of Switzerland (Fribourg Cantonal Police)
Police said in a press conference that there were six deaths and five injuries, according to Swiss media. In a press release, police said the number of dead is not yet confirmed.
“Late in the day, a fire on a postal bus resulted in several deaths and injuries. Arson is suspected,” cantonal police said in the statement.
“Several people injured and several are dead. Emergency services are currently on the scene. The cause is not yet known,” they added. The deceased individuals have not yet been identified.
Fire investigators examine the postal bus that caught fire (AP)
Swedish outlet Blick reports that police were tipped off that a person doused themselves with gasoline on the bus
“We have information that a person was the cause of the fire. However, we cannot confirm this,” the spokesperson said, adding that it is unclear whether there is any danger to the public.
“The intervention will certainly continue throughout the night.”
Medics, including several ambulances and a helicopter, transported three injured people to hospital, police said.
The incident took place in Kerzers, 12 kilometres from Bern (AP)
Two other victims were examined at the scene and were not hospitalised.
Police added: “The fire may have been deliberately set. An investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy.
“Rescue and security operations are continuing. A criminal investigation has been opened by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is leading the inquiry.”
An investigation into the fire is being led by the Fribourg Public Prosecutor’s Office, with police conducting the investigation on-site.