A fire in a Line 5 Metro train in Santiago forced passenger evacuations and closed six stations Monday afternoon. Ten people were affected by smoke inhalation.
The incident occurred around 17:12 on Monday, July 27, at Santa Isabel station. An NS-74 model train caught fire under the chassis, generating toxic smoke and triggering emergency protocols.
Firefighters, police and SAMU personnel responded. Twenty-one trucks from ten Santiago fire companies and four from Ñuñoa controlled the blaze. Metro’s corporate planning and customers manager Carlos Melo confirmed the train and station were evacuated through the tunnel to Irarrázaval.
Five civilians and two firefighters received treatment for smoke inhalation. Three Metro staff were also affected during the evacuation. Service was halted between Plaza de Armas and Irarrázaval while the rest of the network operated normally. The Transport Ministry reinforced Red buses on routes 210, 210B, 210E and 213.
Santiago Fire Commander Giorgio Tromben said the fire involved synthetic materials and tires. Metro Operations Manager Pamela Barros noted no injuries among passengers. Presidential delegate Germán Codina said there were no indications of third-party involvement.
