‘We were stunned’: Man on fire runs through packed metro station — what caused it may already be in your pocket

A man had a terrifying brush with disaster when a power bank suddenly exploded in his pocket, engulfing him in flames.

The shocking incident unfolded at Shanghai West Railway Station in China, where the portable charger ignited inside the man’s jacket while he was descending an escalator. According to The Sun, panic erupted as the man screamed and ran for his life, flames consuming his clothes. Passengers nearby scattered in fear, trying to get out of harm’s way. Video footage circulating online shows the man sprinting desperately through the station corridors while commuters on Metro Line 15 quickly moved back, keeping their distance to avoid the blaze.

The chaos didn’t end there. Another clip captured thick black smoke billowing across the station, forcing authorities to halt train services temporarily. Witnesses described the fire as erupting without any warning, leaving little time for anyone to react. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to contain the flames and assist the injured man.

The power bank was brand new and certified safe

One witness said they were shocked to see the man running with his jacket on fire. People started screaming right away, and they quickly told station workers what was happening. “We were stunned to see the man running away with flames on his jacket. People started screaming, and we immediately alerted station staff,” they said. “Everyone moved back while he ran towards the escalator. Thankfully, he was safe, and the fire was put out quickly.”

No one got seriously hurt in the incident. Local news reported that sparks came out of the man’s pocket just seconds before the fire started spreading. Officials later said the power bank was bought only last month. It even had China’s required 3C safety certification, which means it passed safety tests. The device wasn’t even being used when it exploded.

Authorities have now warned people again that power banks can catch fire even when they’re not in use. They explained that fires can happen because of problems inside the device, mistakes made during manufacturing, very hot temperatures, or damage from charging them the wrong way.

A similar incident recently happened in Oklahoma in the US. A lithium-ion power bank exploded inside a home after one of the family’s dogs started chewing on it. The device caught fire and set nearby furniture on fire too. Both dogs escaped safely, and firefighters came to put out the flames.

The Tulsa Fire Department warned people to never leave power banks where pets can reach them because damaged chargers can catch fire without warning. Such terrifying incidents remind us of other survival stories, like when a climber was left frozen on Everest and miraculously survived.