At least 15 injured in Hong Kong metro fire

A fire is seen in an MTR train in Hong Kong on Feb 10, 2017. [Photo from Facebook]

HONG KONG - At least 15 people were injured in a fire on board a packed MTR train traveling from Admiralty to Tsim Sha Tsui during the evening rush hour on Friday.

The train was packed with passengers when the incident occurred at around 7:15 pm.

MTR staff put out the blaze when the train pulled in at Tsim Sha Tsui station. Passengers were then evacuated.

Local news channel i-Cable reported that a passenger had admitted to committing self-immolation by lighting a Molotov Cocktail in the compartment.

Train services along the Tsuen Wan line is being disrupted, with trains not stopping at Tsim Sha Tsui station, the rail operator said.

Photos on social media showed a fire burning inside a train compartment and an injured man lying on the floor.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.