• At least six people were killed in a bus fire in Kerzers, Switzerland.
• Several others are injured, with three in serious condition.
• Authorities suspect the fire was likely a deliberate act.
• Emergency services launched a major rescue operation involving helicopters and ambulances.
• A criminal investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the incident.

A catastrophic bus fire in the town of Kerzers, approximately 20 kilometers west of Bern, Switzerland, resulted in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 6:25 PM, drawing a prompt response from emergency services, who reported a scene of chaos with a bus engulfed in flames. "The fire left at least six dead and five injured, three of them seriously," stated Frederic Papaux, a spokesperson for the Fribourg cantonal police, according to BBC, India Times, and SCMP.

Police investigations currently indicate that the fire may have been deliberately ignited, although they are still exploring the nature of the incident. "At this stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberate act by a person who was inside the bus," Papaux reported. Further, local authorities have initiated a criminal investigation and have set up a hotline for witnesses to assist in clarifying the circumstances surrounding this tragic event, as outlined by Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Le Monde.

Emergency response teams swiftly arrived at the scene, deploying helicopters and ambulances to aid those injured. Video footage showed flames shooting high from the bus, causing panic among passengers trying to escape. "Emergency services rushed to the scene and found the vehicle completely engulfed in flames," stated police.The Local, CBS News, and SCMP reported.