Passengers evacuated from Hong Kong MTR train after air conditioning malfunctions
- MTR Corp says staff stopped train at North Point after passenger noticed odd smell and sparks coming from on-board air-conditioning unit
Passengers were evacuated from an MTR train on Hong Kong Island after an on-board air-conditioning unit released an odd smell and sparks on Tuesday morning.
Police said rail operator the MTR Corporation stopped the Kennedy Town-bound train at North Point station and instructed all passengers to disembark, with the force learning of the incident at 6.47am. No injuries were reported.
The train was subsequently moved to Admiralty station for inspection.
An MTR Corp spokesman said staff boarded the train at North Point station after a passenger pressed the emergency button when they noticed the strange smell and saw a small spark coming from the air-conditioning unit.
“As a safety precaution, the operations control centre arranged for passengers to disembark at North Point station and transfer to the next train to continue their journey,” he said. “The service on the Island line was only mildly affected.”
Preliminary findings indicated a malfunction in the air-conditioning unit’s electronic components, he said, adding that the train was then sent back to the depot for a thorough inspection to determine the cause of the incident.