A power bank in a woman’s handbag self-ignited inside an MRT train carriage at Raffles Place station on Friday, March 7, 2025, around 5:25 PM.
The incident created white smoke in the carriage and led to the evacuation of approximately 650 passengers. The 28-year-old female passenger, identified only as Ms. Chen, was using her phone when the incident occurred.
Ms. Chen noticed everyone moving away from her and felt heat on her right shoulder. She then realized the smoke was coming from the power bank in her bag. She immediately removed her handbag and exited the train with other passengers.
MRT staff quickly responded by using fire extinguishers to cool down the power bank. The train doors closed with her bag still inside. Station staff also activated the ventilation system to clear the smoke.
Ms. Chen suffered minor burns to her hand and had black smoke stains on her face and back. She declined to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. No other passengers were injured in the incident.
The power bank, a Xiaomi product purchased about five months ago through an official online channel, split into two pieces and was completely blackened and deformed. Ms. Chen’s genuine leather handbag was returned to her the next day with only the metal components intact. The rest of the bag was charred black.
SMRT Metro President Lam Sheau Kai confirmed that train services returned to normal after the affected train was moved to the depot for inspection.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force sent personnel to Changi Depot to investigate the cause of the fire. Initial findings suggest the fire might be related to electrical issues within the power bank.
Xiaomi has contacted Ms. Chen and stated they are focusing on confirming no one was injured, providing support, and conducting a review to maintain quality standards.
