One person has died following a crash that saw a bus go up in flames on a main road in Parnell, Auckland, last night.

Police confirmed the death at 7.30am today.

Auckland Transport say they are working closely with police and Fire and Emergency after the “very distressing” incident.

Tamaki Drive, a popular and busy road, remains closed and will likely stay closed during peak morning traffic today.

Fire and Emergency Assistant Commander Chris Lind said crews arrived at the scene last night to find a serious head-on crash and the electric bus on fire.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire was still “ongoing” this morning and the road remained closed between Ngapipi Rd and The Strand.

Photos show the car wedged under an Auckland Transport bus. A witness said he saw flames “about 3 or 4 metres high”.

Others described frantic attempts to rescue those involved before emergency services arrived, amid screams for help.

“There was a girl, but then she got out through the back of the bus,” one said.

“They got the lady out of the car... They got her out and she was lying down on the ground and they were helping her out.”

Witnesses reported one person on the bus was unable to be freed in time.

“People are just continuously just throwing water, but the fire just grew and nothing could have been done.”

Auckland Transport’s Stacey van der Putten said they were working closely with police and Fire and Emergency, and the investigation into the incident will be ongoing this morning.

Tamaki Drive is closed between Ngapipi Rd and The Strand and is likely to remain closed throughout the morning peak.

Motorists are advised to use alternative routes (including Shore Rd, Remuera Rd or State Highway 1) to access the city from the Eastern Suburbs.

Van der Putten said strike action in the city centre today would also disrupt traffic and so motorists should expect “significant delays”.

Eastern line trains are running; however, the footpath and cycleway are closed. Bus routes 76, 774, 775, and TMK are detouring via Orakei Rd, Shore Rd and Parnell Rd.

Emergency services at the scene of a serious crash and bus fire on Tamaki Drive last night. Photo / NZ Herald

Freight access to the port at Solent St remains open.

Last night, Aucklanders on social media commented about intense flames and the reek of burning rubber.

“There seems to be moments of incredible flashes like if I could imagine a shed full of fireworks going up?” one wrote on Reddit.

“I’ve never heard this many sirens blaring almost undisrupted probably ever it’s looks horrific from my place [sic],” another commented.

Hato Hone St John said they responded with three ambulances, a first response unit, rapid response unit, and operations manager.

They assessed one patient in a serious condition and another in a moderate condition.

Police Acting Inspector Eugene Pickett was unable to confirm if there were any fatalities at this stage.

Emergency services at the scene. Photo / NZ Herald

“We have a number of persons involved in the incident at hospital at the moment, receiving treatment. We are speaking with them,” he told media at the scene.

“I can’t go into any other details in relation to any other persons involved in the crash.”