Two people lost their lives and four critically injured when a taxi they were travelling in caught fire in Parow, Cape Town on Tuesday, paramedics said.

"One of the patients told a paramedic that someone had allegedly thrown petrol into the taxi and set it alight," said ER24 spokesperson Tristan Wadeley.

He said the two burnt to death on the scene in Delarey Road just before 10.30am.

Wadeley said the critically injured were stabilised on the scene and then taken to local hospitals.

Sapa