TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A portable charger burst into flames Wednesday evening (Aug. 6) aboard a Taiwan Railway Corporation, Ltd. (台鐵) train, sparking widespread panic among passengers. The dangerous incident unfolded in the seventh carriage of Tzu-Chiang Limited Express No. 125 traveling between Luzhu and Xinzuoying stations. Thick smoke rapidly filled the carriage, forcing terrified passengers to evacuate in urgent haste as the emergency escalated aboard Taiwan's national railway system.
Taiwan Railway officials confirmed that the train conductor quickly extinguished the blaze using onboard fire suppression equipment. The male passenger carrying the malfunctioning charger suffered painful burns to his hand during the incident. Railway police escorted the injured passenger off the train for questioning after arrival at Xinzuoying (新左營) station. The emergency caused an 18-minute service delay, though the train departed Xinzuoying at 6:03 p.m. without affecting other railway operations.
Dramatic videos circulating on social media platforms captured the smoke-filled carriage, showing passengers coughing violently despite wearing protective masks while fleeing the dangerous scene. Taiwan Railway officials noted that portable chargers remain unclassified as hazardous materials under the Railway Act (鐵路法), Taiwan's transportation regulation framework. Railway authorities nevertheless urged passengers to keep these devices with them personally and avoid placing them in luggage or checked baggage, citing the alarming frequency of recent similar incidents.
Official statistics reveal that Taiwan Railway and the High-Speed Rail (高鐵) have experienced three similar portable charger incidents over the past year. These dangerous episodes include fires on Taiwan Railway's commuter train No. 3294 on Sept. 2, 2024, Tzu-Chiang Limited Express No. 144 on Oct. 13, 2024, and a high-speed rail incident in April 2025. Wednesday's frightening episode marks the fourth such incident, highlighting growing safety concerns across Taiwan's railway network. ◼