A fire broke out on a Yamanote Line train in central Tokyo on July 20, injuring five people.
Footage taken inside the JR Yamanote Line shows smoke and flames coming from a burning object on the floor.
According to Tokyo Fire Department and police, the fire broke out from a smartphone battery shortly after 4 p.m. between Shin-Okubo and Shinjuku stations.
A witness says passengers acted quickly, using a fire extinguisher onboard to put out the flames. The scorched remains of the device were left near the passenger’s seat as the train continued to the next stop at Shinjuku Station.
Five passengers, including the woman who owned the phone, suffered minor injuries. She burned her hand while trying to remove the battery.
Passenger: There was a lot of smoke and it smelled like something was burning. Someone on board grabbed the fire extinguisher and put it out. People were panicking and terrified.
JR East says all trains passing through Shinjuku Station, including the Yamanote and Saikyo lines, were temporarily suspended due to the incident.
The woman told authorities she had removed the battery when the phone started overheating—but the device continued to heat up and then suddenly ignited.
Japan’s product safety agency, NITE, warns that lithium-ion batteries left in hot environments can overheat and catch fire. They urge caution when using mobile power banks, especially in summer.
AloJapan.com