KUWAIT CITY — A dramatic vehicle fire brought traffic to a standstill on the Fahaheel Expressway on Sunday evening, June 28, 2026 after a massive industrial crane burst into flames mid-transit, forcing authorities to temporarily shut down a major segment of the highway.

Despite the intensity of the blaze, which sent plumes of thick black smoke visible across nearby residential areas, emergency services responded swiftly to contain the disaster.

The incident occurred during the peak of the evening traffic flow when the heavy-duty mobile crane reportedly suffered a sudden mechanical or electrical failure. According to eyewitnesses, sparks quickly erupted into a fierce blaze, engulfing the vehicle's engine compartment and driver's cabin within minutes.

The operator managed to steer the vehicle toward the shoulder of the expressway before safely evacuating, avoiding what could have been a catastrophic multi-vehicle collision.

Following reports of the freeway fire, Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) dispatchers immediately rushed multiple firefighting teams to the scene. Firefighters utilized specialized chemical foam and high-pressure water lines to battle the intense fuel- and oil-driven blaze radiating from the heavy machinery. Simultaneously, Interior Ministry patrol vehicles quickly cordoned off the affected lanes, diverting oncoming traffic to secondary routes to ensure public safety and clear a clear path for emergency vehicles.

Thanks to the rapid response of the first responders, the fire was successfully brought under control before it could rupture the crane's primary fuel tanks or cause permanent structural damage to the asphalt below.

Following a thorough sweep of the charred wreckage, emergency officials confirmed that no injuries were reported among commuters, emergency personnel, or the crane operator. "The swift coordination between traffic police and our firefighting units prevented this from becoming a much larger highway disaster," a spokesperson for the emergency services noted.

By late Sunday night, specialized towing crews had arrived to dismantle and remove the blackened remains of the crane. While cleanup crews cleared debris and oil slicks from the roadway, lanes were gradually reopened to restore the standard flow of traffic ahead of the Monday morning rush hour. An official investigation into the exact cause of the vehicle's failure is currently underway.