SINGAPORE - Four men, including a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer, were injured after a Trans-Cab taxi exploded on Commonwealth Avenue opposite Buona Vista MRT station on Sunday (April 30) afternoon.

Preliminary investigations by the SCDF and the Police revealed that the likely cause of the explosion was a road traffic accident that had happened several minutes ago.

At about 2.15pm, the Police were alerted to a traffic accident on involving a taxi and a car. The taxi subsequently caught fire.

According to the Police, four men including an SCDF officer suffered minor burn injuries, and were taken to the National University Hospital.

SCDF said in an update on Sunday night that the injured firefighter who sustained minor burns had been discharged from hospital and is recuperating.

​Eyewitness Kuek Jia Jun said the taxi exploded at around 2.30pm.

"I came out of the (Buona Vista) MRT station, and saw a Red Rhino trying to get to the scene," said Mr Kuek, a 25-year-old student.

Seconds after, he heard the "fairly big" explosion, adding that there was "a lot of smoke".

As he approached the site of the accident, he could detect "a burnt smell".

He said that when he left the scene at 2.40pm, firemen were still pumping water into the bonnet of the taxi, a Toyota Wish.

At least two fire engines, a police car and an ambulance were present at the scene, he said.

Mr Kuek spotted a man near the scene who looked as though he might be the driver of the taxi. He appeared to have burns on his body.

"He seemed to be in shock," said Mr Kuek. "He kept telling the girl (speaking to him) that he felt very hot."

Investigations by the Police, SCDF and LTA are ongoing.