Three teenagers have been arrested for allegedly starting a fire at Muizenberg train station which gutted three carriages on Thursday, the City of Cape Town said.

According to safety and security director Richard Bosman, the three were detained by Muizenberg police in connection with the fire.

The three allegedly ran away and were caught by metro police. They were currently being held at Muizenberg police station.

Earlier on Thursday, the city’s fire and rescue services told News24 three train carriages were on fire at the train station early in the evening.

Spokesperson Theo Layne said authorities had been notified about the fire around 18:00.

“We are on the scene. We have three carriages burning. All passengers were evacuated prior to our arrival. No injuries were reported and the electricity to the train must be isolated first before any fire fighting takes place,” he said.

The cause of the fire was unknown.

“We were unable to ascertain from staff on the scene as to what the cause of the fire was,” Layne said at the time.

The fire did not stop Twitter users from posting pictures of the blaze on social media.

“@sfler: Muizenberg station pic.twitter.com/NPicGuSBfE” I just can’t get my head around this people! I’m absolutely speechless! #SouthAfrica
— Gerrie Claassen (@gerrieclaass) October 8, 2015

Three images of today’s Muizenberg, Cape Town. No 1: pic.twitter.com/7BJU77UJe0
— Joanne Hichens (@JoanneHichens) October 8, 2015

Fire at #Muizenberg train station in #CapeTown: https://t.co/TKxC07WJD2 pic.twitter.com/MHvsI11cqB
— Geofeedia (@geofeedia) October 8, 2015

3 Train carriages alight today at #Muizenberg @Jeronned @KienoKammies pic.twitter.com/sXPvBxhaHe