One of Sydney‘s busiest roads has been brought to a standstill after a car burst into flames inside a tunnel.

The car caught alight as it travelled southbound along the Eastern Distributor approaching the Bondi and Randwick exit just after 12pm on Thursday.

Traffic was closed in both directions along the Eastern Distributor near the site of the fire while the Sydney Harbour Tunnel was closed to all southbound traffic.

All lanes were reopened at about 1:45pm, however Transport NSW has urged commuters to allow for extra travel time and use an alternative route.

A Fire and Rescue spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the tunnel’s sprinkler system ‘contained the fire’ which was extinguished after about 30-45 minutes. 

Emergency services were able to remove the car at about 1pm and vehicles started trickling through the tunnel again soon after. 

A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said paramedics treated four people at the scene for minor smoke inhalation.

Two people, a man and a woman both aged in their 30s, were taken to St Vincent’s and Prince of Wales Hospitals in stable conditions. 

Commuters stuck inside the tunnel during the standstill could be seen leaving their cars, confused as to why they weren’t moving.

The incident occurred just hours after citybound traffic was brought to a complete standstill on Sydney’s M5 motorway after a six-vehicle crash.

More to come.