HELSINKI

A BMW passenger car caught fire at the intersection of Mannerheimintie and Simonkatu in Helsinki near the Forum shopping center shortly before 16:00 on Friday afternoon.

Thick smoke and flames were visible from afar.

The fire, as reported by the rescue department, broke out while the vehicle was in motion, and the fire department quickly brought it under control.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but the vehicle was a standard gasoline model. The driver exited safely upon noticing smoke.

The incident disrupted traffic, including trams, but was soon controlled, allowing traffic to return to normal.