Power bank catches fire on Guangzhou subway, burns passenger's pants

A power bank self-ignited in a passenger's pocket on Guangzhou's Metro Line 1 on Tuesday, burning a hole through his trousers and causing the train to be evacuated.

The incident occurred around 6.43pm as a train arrived at Martyrs' Park Station heading toward Guangzhou East Railway Station. Photos online showed the man's pants had a large hole near the front pocket with what appeared to be burned skin.

Guangzhou Metro said staff immediately handled the emergency. The train was taken out of service after passengers disembarked to ensure operational safety. Station services were not affected.

The passenger was taken to hospital for further examination. The metro operator reminded passengers not to use portable charging devices on trains and to report any incidents calmly to station staff.