Power bank catches fire at Buangkok MRT station, police & SCDF called in

A power bank was emitting smoke from a bag on the platform of Buangkok MRT station on Jul. 29, alerting the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to the scene.

In a video posted on TikTok, a black bag on the station platform can be seen emitting smoke just before the train doors.

A police officer sprayed it with a fire extinguisher, leaving it covered in white powder.

When an officer opened the bag to look inside, a burst of flame shot out and was quickly extinguished by the officer.

@pokecardboards Disclaimer‼️ this video not to name and shame anybody. Not really sure what caused the fire, but I overheard the owner said “power bank” to the staff Happened around 5pm, 29th July, on a Wednesday evening Video to share awareness on the dangers of power banks, to cure my own kaypohness and I had to wait for the next train anyway. Didn’t stay any longer than I needed to. this is my POV. Otw home from work, and right before leaving buangkok station suddenly everyone from one cabin away everyone running towards my cabin then just right before the door close, someone shout “everybody get out!” Then the door closed on us before we managed to get out, some did some didn’t. I didn’t, I was trying to see what’s going on, and it’s just one cabin away from mine, we can smell smoke building up, starts to become foggy in the cabin having the commotion. Then the door suddenly open again then we all get out. Apparently it’s a bag that caught fire? Probably due to a power bank in the bag? Then the smrt staff and police tried to put it out with an extinguisher, while everyone watching show. Then i watch until the next mrt come then I left. The commotion was still going on when I left, somehow the power bank or whatever that is burning cannot be put out. But ye, that’s what happened and there was a Snorlax involved so, that’s why it’s on this page 🙃 #singaporenews #sgnews #sgnews🇸🇬 ♬ original sound - PokeCardBoards

In response to Mothership's queries, SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu said that the incident happened at about 5:06pm that day.

A TransCom Police officer responded to the incident while SBS Transit staff were also on site to assist commuters.

The SCDF, who were alerted at about 5:10pm, said the incident involved a power bank that was emitting smoke.

Before they arrived, the TransCom Police officer used a dry powder fire extinguisher to try to put it out.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the incident is under investigation.

Passengers exited the train

In the TikTok video, an empty train can be seen stopped at the station platform.

The user who posted the video was a passenger on board a train that stopped at Buangkok station due to smoke.

Right before the train doors closed at the station, they heard someone shout "Everybody, get out!" inside the train, the user wrote in the caption.

They could smell smoke from a cabin away, and the air started to get foggy.

"The door closed on us before we managed to get out," they said. "Some did, some didn’t... Then the door suddenly [opened] again, then we all get out."

Another passenger told Zaobao that the police asked around at the station platform for the owner of the bag that emitted smoke, and a man in his 30s went forward.

The police then asked the man if the bag contained a power bank, but the passenger did not catch the man's reply.

Train service at Buangkok MRT station resumed within five minutes, the SBS Transit spokesperson said.