Power bank catches fire at Woodlands MRT station, staff puts it out

A commuter's power bank caught fire and emitted smoke at Woodlands MRT station on the morning of Jul. 20, 2026.

According to a video seen by Mothership, a bag on the station floor near the platform screen doors was emitting smoke.

Commuters could be seen boarding the train and the train doors closed shortly after.

Power bank emitted smoke

Responding to Mothership's queries, SMRT Trains' president Lam Sheau Kai said a commuter was waiting for a train at Woodlands station on the Thomson-East Coast Line at about 9am on Jul. 20 when the power bank in her bag started emitting smoke.

"Another commuter on the platform alerted our station staff," he said.

A station staff responded to the fire quickly by extinguishing it.

The staff also assisted the affected commuter, who suffered minor blisters on her fingers. No other injuries were reported.

Safety precaution

"As a safety precaution, the station's exhaust ventilation system was activated to clear the smoke and maintain a safe environment for commuters," Lam said.

During the incident, trains bypassed Woodlands station for about 20 minutes while station staff managed the incident safely.

In addition, announcements were made in trains and at stations to keep commuters informed.

"We would like to remind commuters to use only power banks with built-in safety features. This helps reduce the risk of overheating and other battery-related incidents."