A white Audi was gutted in a fire in the urban district of Fuzhou city on the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb 10, Southeast Express has reported.

A white Audi is seen burning on a roadside near the Xiangshan Tunnel in Fuzhou, Fujian province, Feb 10. [Photo/Xinhua]

The self-ignition happened at around 2 pm, when the car was parked on a roadside near the Xiangshan Tunnel on Second Ring Road. It was noticed and reported by a passing driver surnamed Zhang.

“The engine cover caught flame all of a sudden, and it really caught me off the guard,” Zhang said describing the scary scene.

The owner of the car was later reached by police without giving her name. She recalled pulling the car over after receiving a red alarm on the system, and managing to escape before the fire started.

Self-ignition of a car in winter is usually caused by mechanical failure. The possibility of electrostatic discharge can’t be ruled out, according to a professional with a local automobile shop.

The case is under investigation.