Flames can be seen rising from a burning car that has blocked Auckland’s Southwestern Motorway. Video / Supplied
Traffic to and from Auckland Airport is heavily congested this evening after a car fire on the city’s Southwestern Motorway.
“The car sounded like it would blow up,” one witness who was driving past told the Herald.
She captured video of the blaze, which shows a classic model Land Roverparked on the left southbound shoulder, just after the Massey Rd interchange on State Highway 20, spewing out dark grey smoke.
Flames engulfed the vehicle’s bonnet and fire was rising from the road underneath the engine and around the wheel wells.
SH20 SOUTHWESTERN MWY - 4:20pm Due to a car fire, the southbound left lane is BLOCKED after Massey Rd interchange. Pass with extra care and expect delays. ^SG pic.twitter.com/U8f1w2Gqt3
— NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland (@nztaaklnth) June 7, 2025
Live traffic data on Google showed the fire had caused a backlog for 7km northbound to the motorway interchange with SH1, and 6km southbound to Māngere Bridge.
Police were called to the fire about 4.15pm, a spokeswoman said.
“A vehicle had pulled over to the shoulder, described as just south of the Middlemore exit, and appeared to have been smoking underneath it.”
Fire and Emergency NZ told the Herald they were called to the fire at 4.09pm.
Firefighters had since extinguished the fire and left the scene with police.
Two fire trucks responded to the fire, a spokesman said.
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