Commuters at Buangkok MRT station were forced to evacuate a train on Wednesday evening after a power bank inside a passenger’s backpack reportedly began emitting smoke.
The incident occurred at about 5.06pm on July 29, with police, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel and MRT staff responding swiftly to the situation.
No injuries were reported, and train services resumed within five minutes.
Commuters Smelt Burning Before Evacuation
According to eyewitness accounts shared online, passengers first noticed a burning smell while the train was approaching Buangkok MRT station.
One commuter said that as the train arrived, people from another carriage suddenly began running towards theirs before someone shouted, “Everybody get out!”
Although some passengers managed to leave immediately, others remained inside after the train doors closed before reopening moments later, allowing everyone to evacuate safely.
The eyewitness said smoke gradually filled the carriage, creating a fog-like atmosphere as confusion spread among passengers.
The commuter believed the smoke was coming from a backpack and overheard the owner mentioning the words “power bank” to station staff, although the exact cause has not been officially confirmed.
Fire Extinguisher Used To Contain Incident
Photos circulating online showed a backpack and several personal belongings lying on the station platform covered in white powder from a fire extinguisher.
Witnesses said a TransCom police officer used a dry powder fire extinguisher to tackle the smoking bag before SCDF officers arrived.
One commuter told local media that the smoke subsided shortly after the extinguisher was deployed, although another eyewitness claimed the burning object appeared difficult to fully extinguish while they remained at the station.
Station staff were later seen cleaning up the fire extinguisher residue, while a burnt smell reportedly lingered around the platform.
Authorities Responded Quickly
SBS Transit confirmed that smoke was observed coming from a bag on the station platform at about 5.06pm.
The operator said a TransCom officer responded immediately, with MRT staff assisting commuters while SCDF was activated.
According to SBS Transit, no injuries were reported and normal train services resumed within five minutes.
SCDF also confirmed it was alerted at about 5.10pm to a power bank emitting smoke at Buangkok MRT station. It said the incident had already been attended to by the TransCom officer using a dry powder fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Reminder On Power Bank Safety
While investigators have yet to determine the exact cause, lithium-ion batteries found in power banks can overheat or fail if they are damaged, defective or exposed to excessive heat.
Commuters are advised to regularly inspect power banks for signs of swelling, overheating or physical damage, and to stop using any device that shows unusual behaviour such as excessive heat, smoke or a burning smell.
The Buangkok incident comes months after another power bank-related fire on Singapore’s MRT network, highlighting the importance of using certified charging devices and handling lithium battery products with care.