A power bank caught fire on an MRT train at Singapore’s Raffles Place station. No injuries were reported, and services remained unaffected after the incident.
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| White smoke billows from an MRT train cabin at Singapore’s Raffles Place after a power bank catches fire, prompting an emergency response. Image: PAT/ XIAOHONGSHU/The Star |
Singapore – March 8, 2025:
A power bank caught fire inside an MRT train cabin at Raffles Place station on Friday evening, prompting an emergency response. All 650 commuters onboard safely evacuated, and train services were not disrupted, reads a Star post.
SMRT, the train operator, said the emergency communication button was activated at 5:30 pm, alerting station staff, who quickly extinguished the fire using a fire extinguisher. The station's exhaust system was turned on to clear the smoke.
Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains, confirmed that no one was injured, and the affected commuter declined medical assistance. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was informed of the incident at 5:45 pm but was told assistance was not required.
A video circulating on social media showed white smoke filling the train cabin as station staff handled the situation. The commuter, who identified herself only as Chen, stated that she was not using the power bank at the time. Upon noticing the fire, she threw her handbag—containing the device—on the ground before rushing out of the cabin with other passengers.
Following the incident, the train was removed from service and sent to Changi Depot, where SCDF conducted investigations. Preliminary findings suggest the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the power bank.
SMRT reassured commuters that the issue was swiftly contained and reminded passengers to remain vigilant when carrying electronic devices on public transport.