Southern Motorway car fire near Papakura causes Easter traffic delays

Emergency services rushed to a serious car fire that shut down a lane on the Southern Motorway in Auckland.

Traffic backed up around the scene of the blaze in South Auckland as motorists returned to Auckland after the Easter weekend.

Police said they responded to the vehicle fire near the Papakura on-ramp just after 11.10am.

A video of the incident showed thick black smoke billowing from the front of the vehicle as bright orange flames engulfed the bonnet.

As of 12.25pm the spokesperson said one lane remained closed.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesperson told the Herald that multiple calls were received, with the first at 11.07am. On arrival, the car was “well involved” in flames.

Traffic is backing up in South Auckland after a car fire shut down a lane on the Southern Motorway. Photo / Google Maps

Two fire trucks attended the blaze, which has since been extinguished.

The spokesperson said no one was inside the vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder of the Southern Motorway near the Manurewa–Takanini off-ramp.

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