Prosecutors Say Swiss Bus Fire That Killed Six Was Triggered by Passenger’s Self-Immolation

Overview

• Authorities confirmed six fatalities and began formal identifications, including radio presenter Lara Baumgartner, a 16-year-old, the 63-year-old Portuguese driver, a 29-year-old man, and two women aged 25 and 29.
• A 65-year-old Swiss passenger is suspected of setting himself on fire onboard and is believed to be among the dead, according to prosecutor Raphael Bourquin, after his family reported him missing.
• Five people were injured; most have been discharged from hospital, with two remaining under observation.
• The blaze erupted around 18:25 on March 10 in Kerzers, where firefighters, ambulances, and an air-rescue helicopter responded and secured the area.
• Police opened a penal investigation, set up a witness hotline, and are analyzing onboard footage to determine the sequence of events and why escape proved difficult for some passengers.