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Clifford Lo

Oscar Liu

Passengers were evacuated from a Hong Kong train carriage on Wednesday after a portable fan’s lithium battery fell out of a commuter’s bag and caught fire, injuring a man sitting next to him.
The train was arriving at Yau Tong MTR station when the incident took place at around 8.57am, according to police.
“The lithium battery of a handheld fan fell from a male passenger’s bag and caught fire, causing an injury to a 26-year-old man sitting next to him,” a force spokesman said.
He said the victim sustained minor injuries to his torso and was taken to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong for treatment.
A fire engine and an ambulance were sent to the MTR station after the fire was reported at 9.03am.

A Fire Services Department spokeswoman said the flame was already out when firefighters arrived.
“A preliminary investigation indicated that the fire was caused by the lithium battery of a fan and the seat in the carriage was also blackened,” she said.
Firefighters were investigating how the lithium battery caught fire, she added.
According to the MTR Corporation, a passenger on board the North Point-bound train on the Tseung Kwan O line activated the emergency call button at around 8.53am, reporting a suspected fire while the train was heading towards Yau Tong MTR station.
The rail giant said its control centre dispatched staff to help, and also told police and fire services. When the train stopped at Yau Tong station, staff promptly directed passengers to disembark.
“One male passenger who was seated near the suspected fire source sustained back injuries and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment,” the company said.
“Staff discovered signs of burning on a seat in the carriage and the suspected burnt battery on the floor.”
The company said it had arranged for the train to return to the depot for inspection.
The MTR Corp is helping police and fire services with further investigations.
Portable fans have become increasingly popular, with models designed to hang around people’s necks or clip onto baby strollers. But an engineer urged residents to only buy products approved by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.
“People should stop using portable fans that are not approved by the department,” said Ho Wing-ip, an independent electrical and building services engineer.
“Portable fans bought from street vendors or online platforms typically cost around HK$100. The quality of the lithium batteries used in them may not be top of the line, leading to fire hazards from short circuits due to battery overheating and overcharging.”
Ho said high-quality lithium batteries maintained their stability in high ambient temperatures while discharging electricity without risking a short circuit, and some had an automatic shutdown mechanism triggered by specific currents or temperatures.
Ho also stressed that even with approved portable fans, residents should refrain from prolonged use or charging to reduce the risk of short circuits, which could cause sparks and ignite plastic round the batteries.


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A man was injured after a lithium battery caught fire. Photo: Handout

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One passenger sustains minor injuries and is taken to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong for treatment


One passenger sustains minor injuries and is taken to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong for treatment.
