School bus turns into fireball on Bruce Highway

Dozens of students have made it off a school bus minutes before it burst into flames on a Queensland highway.

The 61 high school students and three teachers were on an excursion when the bus caught alight on the Bruce Highway, near Chevallum on the Sunshine Coast, about 12.50pm (AEST) on Tuesday.

It was engulfed by flames when firefighters arrived.

Five students, including two suffering smoke inhalation, have been taken to hospital.