Commuters faced unexpected chaos during their morning travel today when a fire erupted under an eastbound PATH train in Jersey City. As reported by ABC7 New York, the incident occurred just before 6:20 a.m., leading to smoke filling the train and Newport Station, forcing an evacuation on the platform. Port Authority officials confirmed that 13 individuals required treatment for smoke inhalation, and nine of them were sent to the hospital for further evaluation.
Passengers experienced a tense situation, as captured in a widely shared video on social media, which showed flames emerging from beneath a stationary train while its doors remained closed. As described by AM New York, when doors opened eventually, passengers flee the smoke-engulfed railcar as fire blazed underneath.
The ordeal led to significant service interruptions, with suspensions spanning from Hoboken to World Trade Center and between the 33rd Street and Journal Square stations. While PATH train service returned to normal by 11 a.m., the Port Authority indicated that NJ Transit would cross-honor tickets until 11:30 a.m. to accommodate disrupted commuters.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, as investigations by PATH officials and fire department crews are ongoing. According to ABC7 New York, the fire began beneath the train during the morning commute. Although PATH service was quickly restored, the incident led many commuters to seek alternative transportation, including the NY Waterway and NJ Transit, both of which honored PATH tickets.
