Bus explodes in Homer Tunnel

8:00pm

A bus exploded in the Homer Tunnel near the Milford Sound this afternoon.

A Te Anau police spokeswoman said all 32 passengers and the bus driver had been accounted for by emergency services who had been helicoptered to the tunnel after the 2.05pm blast.

Details of injuries were unavailable and the Fire Service was working to douse the bus, which exploded 200m from the eastern end of the tunnel.

The spokeswoman said a witness had seen clouds of smoke pouring from the bus just before it entered the tunnel.

The 1200m-long tunnel would remain closed until further notice and a geologist had been contacted to check it for structural damage.

The spokeswoman said about 750 visitors to Milford Sounds were trapped in the area due to the tunnel's closure.

- NZPA