A bus caught fire on Tuesday in a town in Switzerland leaving several people dead and others injured, police said.

The blaze happened in Kerzers in Fribourg canton in western Switzerland, police said in a social media post. "Several people injured and several are dead," the cantonal police said.

"Emergency services are currently on the scene. The cause is not yet known."

Police said the incident happened Tuesday evening on the main street in the small town 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of the Swiss capital Bern.

Police asked the public to stay away from the area and follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS reported that one person was airlifted away by helicopter.