UPDATED 03 March 2023 5:00PM:

Tonga Fire Services, investigating a car fire on Vuna Road this morning, say after the driver was was alerted to the fire by another road user, he pulled over to the side of the road and escaped.

Deputy Fire Commissioner, Sinamoni Kauvaka in an update this afternoon said fire fighters responded to the blaze, at around 7:14 am.

“The information we have now is from a witness who was driving behind this Mazda car. He noticed a spark under the car so he overtook the Mazda and warned him.

“The male driver was reported to have then pulled over to the side of Vuna Road in front of the Cowley residence and got out,” he said.

The car was then gutted by fire.

The driver is the only one confirmed to have been in the car.

“An investigation is being held to determine the cause of the fire,” said Kauvaka.

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Blazing

03 March 2023 12:15 am: A car was gutted by fire this morning on Vuna Road close to the gates of the Cowley residence on the waterfront at Touliki.

Tonga Fire Services rapidly responded to the blaze during the morning rush hour before 8:30am.

A black Mazda car, which had pulled over to the side of the road, was ablaze and emitting a cloud of thick black smoke when they arrived. A tyre exploded.

There appeared to be no occupants in the vehicle.

Yellow crime scene tape has been put around the vehicle to prevent anyone from trespassing the area of investigation.

Deputy Fire Commissioner, Sinamoni Kauvaka told Matangi Tonga just after 9:00am this morning that he had been made aware of the car fire but had not received any reports at that point of time.

"When I get the official report, I will release it," he said.

At the same time a spokesperson from Tonga Police said she had not received a report on the car-fire.

Meanwhile, a video of the fire shows the blaze engulfing the vehicle.

A fire truck was also recorded rushing to the scene of the fire.