News On Japan

Mobile Battery Catches Fire on Yamanote Line, Injuring 5

TOKYO, Jul 21 (News On Japan) - A mobile battery being used to charge a smartphone caught fire inside a JR Yamanote Line train on the evening of July 20th, injuring five passengers and temporarily suspending services on multiple lines, including the Yamanote and Saikyo lines.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department and other authorities, the incident occurred at around 4:10 p.m. between Shin-Okubo and Shinjuku stations on the inner loop of the Yamanote Line. A woman in her 30s was charging her smartphone when the battery pack suddenly ignited.

The fire was quickly extinguished using a fire extinguisher, but the woman suffered burns to her hand. Four other passengers sustained minor injuries, including sprained ankles while fleeing the smoke-filled carriage.

As a result of the incident, train services on the Yamanote Line's outer loop were suspended for about one hour, while the inner loop was halted for roughly two hours. Operations were also temporarily suspended on other JR lines running through central Tokyo, including the Saikyo Line and the Shonan-Shinjuku Line.

Source: TBS

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