A bus exploded in Cape Town city centre on Monday afternoon. The bus had arrived in Cape Town from Johannesburg and was carrying 14 passengers and two drivers. All escaped unhurt.

Eyewitness Biba Pearce told iafrica.com that at exactly 1.23pm an enormous explosion rattled buildings in Adderley street on the Foreshore as a Translux bus burst into flames.

"In neighbouring Pier Place, an arty square in the centre of the Foreshore, the corporate employees, fearing the worst, emerged in droves from their various high rises, drawn by the deafening blast," said Pearce, to watch as flames reduce the double decker bus to its carcass.

The heat could be felt 50 metres away, said Pearce.

Minutes later, firefighters had extinguished the fireball and cordoned off the area.

Police Captain Randall Stoffels said the fire may have been caused by a mechanical problem.