Flames and smoke prompt mass evacuation on New York City area train

Arab Times

04-08-2025

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug 4: A fire broke out on a New York City area commuter train early Monday morning, forcing passengers to evacuate and causing significant delays. The incident occurred at Newport Station in Jersey City, New Jersey, on a Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train heading eastbound around 6:19 a.m.
A passenger's video shared on social media showed thick smoke filling one of the train cars as passengers shouted, "open the door" and "easy, easy," before they disembarked. The footage also captured bright orange flames rising nearly to the top of the car from the train's rails.
Port Authority officials confirmed that passengers were evacuated onto the platform, and emergency responders treated 13 individuals at the scene for smoke inhalation. Nine of these individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for further evaluation. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
The incident disrupted PATH train service during the morning commute, particularly impacting travel between Hoboken and Manhattan. As a result, the Journal Square to 33rd Street and Hoboken to World Trade Center lines were temporarily suspended. However, the Hoboken to 33rd Street line has since resumed operation.
In response to the delays, NJ Transit and NY Waterway are cross-honoring PATH tickets for passengers seeking alternate routes.
Chopper 2 aerial footage from the scene showed multiple fire trucks outside Newport Station as emergency teams worked to control the situation. Witnesses reported seeing passengers in distress, with some holding their chests and others receiving oxygen. A couple of people were taken to the hospital, but no reports of severe injuries have been confirmed.
One witness, Eric Robinson, expressed concern about the safety of passengers: "I'm surprised nobody got trampled, given the amount of smoke inside," he said. "I hope they're OK. That's a scary thing to deal with, especially on your way to work."
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, which remains under examination. PATH trains typically serve around 165,000 passengers daily, connecting northern New Jersey to Manhattan across the Hudson River.