Handy fan fire burns passenger's shirt on MTR train

A portable fan caught fire at Yau Tong MTR Station this morning, resulting in injuries to a passenger and causing damage to his shirt.

At around 9 am, the police received a report that a passenger's fan had caught fire, causing smoke and flames on a train that was heading towards North Point.

Although the fire had been put out by the time firefighters and police arrived, a 26-year-old male passenger sitting nearby was found with burns on his left waist and his shirt damaged with scorch marks.

He was sent to United Christian Hospital for treatment.

The Fire Services Department said the fire ignited from a lithium battery within the handheld fan.

The incident did not disrupt the MTR services, and the involved train was later returned to the Tseung Kwan O depot for inspection.