Passengers escape bus before it bursts into flames

Passengers on a 40-seater bus managed to escape the vehicle just before it burst into flames.

The bus was travelling along High Level Rd, the main forestry road between State Highway 5 and Murupara near Taupo about 7.30pm on Sunday when the driver realised there was a problem and stopped the bus.

"Flames engulfed the bus almost as soon as the people got off it," Taupo Fire Service station officer Lou McCauley told The Daily Post.

He said it was not yet clear what caused the fire. "All the passengers got off but the bus was a total write-off. The passengers did not even have time to grab their belongings."

One fire truck and a water tanker from Taupo Fire Service responded to the scene. It took about half an hour to extinguish the blaze.

No one was hurt but the passengers' belongings were destroyed.