SINGAPORE - A fire broke out in the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) tunnel towards the Tampines Expressway (TPE) at the Upper Paya Lebar Road Exit on Tuesday (Oct 8).

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Twitter at about 1.30pm that the exit was closed due to the fire, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it responded to a vehicle fire there at about the same time.

SCDF extinguished the fire which involved the engine compartment of a lorry using a hose reel. No injuries were reported.

When The Straits Times arrived at the scene at 2.42pm, the fire had been put out. A burnt lorry was seen, with firefighters in uniforms and the ground still wet. A burning smell lingered in the tunnel as well.

Netizens took to social media to warn other motorists to avoid the KPE tunnel towards TPE.

LTA said at 5.05pm in a tweet that the Upper Paya Lebar Road exit was reopened to traffic.

When beauty consultant Ms Joey Chong, who is in her 40s, was driving past the Upper Paya Lebar exit on Tuesday at about 1.25pm, the lorry was on fire in the tunnel.

"The fire was quite huge. After I drove past there was a loud explosion... Everyone was alerted via the radio to leave the tunnel," she said.

SCDF is investigating the fire.