This is the incredible moment a car is torn apart by a massive explosion while the driver apparently walked away unharmed.

CCTV footage from Xiangtan, Hunan Province, central China, shows how the spectacular blast blew the roof off the car on 16th December.

The images shot during the night-time show a Baojun SUV slowing down to turn a corner in the city.

But as it starts to pick up speed, a huge explosion that sends the car roof flying into the air on a jet of yellow flame.

The force of the blast is so loud that nearby car alarms go off, and people can be heard shouting in confusion.

The shattered car, meanwhile, continues on its way before slowly coming to a stop.

Later footage shows that the rear of the car has also been buckled in the massive explosion.

The Baojun is a Chinese brand that first went on sale in 2018, produced in Indonesia.

The preliminary investigation showed a leaking gas tank in the vehicle exploded when the driver lit a cigarette, according to local media.

Despite the force of the explosion, however, a spokesman for the Xiangxiang City Emergency Management Bureau said that the driver – who was alone in the car at the time – was unhurt and was able to walk away from the wreck.

They said they were checking to see whether the car had been illegally modified.