Delay warning: garbage truck fire causes chaos on southern highway

Traffic is jammed on the busy South Auckland Highway in Mumbai after a fire broke out in a garbage truck.

Waka Kotahi NZTA said a southbound lane between Mumbai and Pokeno was blocked due to the vehicle fire that broke out before noon.

The agency is warning motorists that they will face long delays in getting through the area and asks them to delay heading south and avoid the area entirely.

In a tweet, the agency asked motorists to wait for a long drive south and to consider getting off at Mill Rd, Mumbai and meeting the highway in Pokeno if they still planned to head south out of the city.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the garbage truck was on fire.

It had caught fire on SH1 near the Razorback Rd exit ramp prior to the SH2 interchange.

Two engines and a water tanker were putting out the flames.

There were no injuries, he said.

Motorists were urged to follow the instructions of the emergency services.

Traffic leaving Auckland is stuck on a stretch of the motorway.

More to come