At least six people died in a bus fire in ⁠a small town in western Switzerland, in what police said may have been caused by a deliberate act.

Police said the bus became engulfed in flames on a road in Kerzers, a town in the canton of Fribourg, about 20km from the Swiss capital of Bern after media reports that a person on the bus had set fire ‌to themselves.

“At this ⁠stage, we have elements suggesting a deliberateact by a person who was inside the bus,” said Frederic Papaux, a spokesperson for Fribourg police.

Investigators were looking into reports that a person had poured fuel on themselves, said Christa Bielmann, ‌another local police spokesperson.

It was too early to say whether the incident was terror-related, she told ⁠a press conference.

Three injured people were taken to hospital, ‌ police said.

Passengers were seen escaping from the burning bus, panicked and ⁠injured, ‌Mr Papaux said, adding that no other vehicle was involved.

Video after the flames were extinguished showed the charred remains of the vehicle.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered his ⁠condolences and said the incident was being investigated.

“It shocks and saddens me that ⁠once again people have lost their lives in a serious fire in Switzerland,” he said in a statement on X.

In January, Switzerland was rocked by a fire in a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 ‌people and injured 115.