Passengers evacuated at Tanjong Pagar MRT after power bank emits smoke on 5 December 2025
Passengers were evacuated from an east-bound train at Tanjong Pagar MRT station on 5 December 2025 after a commuter’s power bank emitted smoke, prompting staff to activate safety procedures. No injuries were reported.
- Passengers were evacuated from an MRT train at Tanjong Pagar after a power bank emitted smoke.
- SMRT staff activated safety protocols, and no injuries were reported.
- The incident follows earlier power bank-related fires, including a major case in March.
Passengers on an east-bound MRT train were asked to disembark at Tanjong Pagar station on 5 December 2025 after a commuter’s power bank began emitting smoke.
According to a post on Xiaohongshu on 6 December, commuter Liu Xiaopang said he saw thick smoke and detected a strange smell coming from the device.
He noted that the power bank did not catch fire or explode, and another passenger quickly activated the emergency button before leaving the cabin.
SMRT staff guided all passengers off the train and directed them to another arriving service within five minutes, according to the account shared by Liu.
He added that the owner of the power bank apologised to nearby commuters and that those on board remained calm throughout the process.
SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai said the Emergency Communication Button had been activated at around 2pm.
He said station staff identified smoke coming from the power bank and promptly facilitated the evacuation of passengers from the affected train.
No injuries were reported following the incident.
Lam said the station’s exhaust system was activated to disperse the smoke, which cleared shortly afterwards.
The affected train was subsequently sent to the depot for further checks, and overall train services continued without disruption.
The incident follows a separate case in March, when 650 people were evacuated at Raffles Place MRT station after a commuter’s power bank caught fire.
According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force, there were 13 fires linked to power banks in 2024.
The agency recorded 10 such fires in 2023, 11 each in 2021 and 2022, six in 2020 and seven in 2019.
These numbers highlight the recurring risks associated with faulty or damaged portable chargers, which remain common personal electronic items carried during daily commutes.
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