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An electric bus has caught on fire after being wedged under a bridge on Auckland’s North Shore.

Just after 1pm today, police were advised that a bus had collided with the edge of an overpass on Constellation Drive.

The bus caught fire and there is a significant amount of smoke in the area.

One bystander told the Herald nearby residents moved inside and shut their windows when smoke started filling the air.

“It was difficult to breathe as we were visiting a relative who lives on the other side of Sunset Rd, by the top bus entrance to Constellation Rd bus station, and the smell was thick ... it appeared to be of a chemical or plastic nature.”

Cordons have been put in place and motorists and pedestrians are asked to follow the directions of emergency services staff, police said.

The bus caught fire after colliding with the edge of an overpass

Nearby residents and businesses are also advised to close their doors and windows to prevent smoke from getting inside their homes.

Three fire crews from Takapuna, Albany, and a volunteer crew from Greenhithe are attending the fire.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said everyone was off the bus.

Motorists and pedestrians are being asked to avoid the area around Constellation Busway Station and Sunset Rd due to the bus fire.

A bus has caught fire after getting stuck under an overpass at the Constellation Bus Terminal. Photo / Dean Purcell

Auckland Transport issued a notice at 1.52pm to say the Constellation bus station has been closed due to an emergency incident until further notice.

A Herald reporter on another bus travelling along the Northern Busway said the “area smelt strongly of smoke” as they approached the Constellation bus station.

“There were police and security diverting the buses heading towards the city.

“Because of the diversion our bus had to go on the motorway and it skipped the Sunnynook Station, so some people might have been left waiting for a while for a bus.

“Maybe half a dozen busses were getting redirected.”