Power bank in commuter’s backpack emits smoke at Buangkok MRT station; no injuries reported
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The incident occurred on the platform of Buangkok MRT station.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ST READER
SINGAPORE – Smoke was seen coming from a power bank in a commuter’s bag at Buangkok MRT station on July 29, leading to a five-minute pause in train service.
Transport operator SBS Transit, in response to queries, said the incident occurred at about 5pm on the platform of the station, which is on the North East Line.
A Public Transport Security Command (TransCom) police officer responded to the incident, SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu said.
“Our staff were also on site to assist commuters,” she said, adding that train service at the station resumed within five minutes.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), which was alerted at about 5.10pm, said the incident involved a power bank that was emitting smoke on the station platform, and that a TransCom officer used a dry powder fire extinguisher before SCDF officers arrived.
No injuries were reported and SCDF is investigating the cause of the incident.
The smoke disappeared after a few minutes, but the area around the power bank and backpack was briefly covered in white powder from the extinguisher, Chinese-language news publication Lianhe Zaobao reported on July 29.
Videos circulating online show a crowd of curious onlookers on the platform.
A commuter on a train heading towards Punggol Coast MRT station told Zaobao that he had seen a woman on the platform at Buangkok MRT station asking for help. Two TransCom officers on the same train alighted to assist her, he said. Shortly afterwards, all commuters on the train were told to disembark.
The commuter said that a man later stepped forward to claim the backpack after officers asked for its owner.
