"Sudden Self-Immolation" Leaves Bus Engulfed in Flames in Switzerland, 6 Dead

A fire broke out on a city bus operating in the western Swiss canton of Fribourg, resulting in six deaths and five injuries.

According to Yonhap News on March 11, citing DPA and other sources, a fire occurred on a bus in Kerzers, Fribourg, Switzerland, on March 10, causing casualties. Six people, including the bus driver and passengers, lost their lives in the fire, while a total of five people were injured, including four passengers and one paramedic who participated in the rescue operations. At least three of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

The fire authorities mobilized police, paramedics, and rescue helicopters to extinguish the fire and conduct rescue operations, but the flames spread quickly, and the bus was completely burned down. Photo by AP Yonhap News Agency

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One of the injured is receiving treatment in the burn intensive care unit at the University Hospital Zurich, while the other injured individuals received emergency care at the scene or were transported to nearby hospitals. The bus involved in the fire was identified as a local route bus operated by PostBus, a public transportation subsidiary under Swiss Post. At the time of the incident, several passengers were on board, and the fire started inside the vehicle before quickly spreading throughout the entire bus.

Fire authorities mobilized police, ambulance crews, and rescue helicopters to carry out firefighting and rescue operations. However, as the flames spread rapidly, the bus was completely destroyed. Videos of the bus engulfed in flames with smoke billowing were also widely circulated on social media. Police investigations suggest that the fire started when a man in his sixties aboard the bus set himself on fire. According to police, the man boarded the bus at around 5:45 p.m. and, about 40 minutes later at 6:25 p.m., poured a flammable liquid over himself inside the vehicle and ignited it.

On social media, a video showing a bus engulfed in flames with smoke rising also spread. Photo by NBC NEWS

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The flames instantly spread inside the vehicle, leading to a major fire. Authorities have identified the man as a Swiss national in his sixties who resided in the canton of Bern. Police stated that a missing person report had been filed by his family before the incident, and he is believed to have died in the fire. Police further explained that the man was previously known to authorities due to psychological issues.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed in a statement, "I am deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of precious lives due to another fire," and extended his condolences to the families of the victims. Photo by AP Yonhap News

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The Fribourg canton prosecutor's office is investigating the incident on charges of murder and arson against the man. At a press conference, Fribourg Chief Prosecutor Raphael Burkhalter stated, "So far, the investigation has found no evidence that this incident is related to terrorism." Witnesses testified that the fire spread extremely rapidly. Some passengers and bystanders reportedly broke windows in attempts to escape, as the situation became increasingly urgent.

Kerzers is a small village with a population of about 5,000, located approximately 15 kilometers west of the Swiss capital, Bern. The accident, which occurred in an otherwise quiet area, has left the local community in shock. Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in another fire, offering condolences to the families of the victims in a statement.

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