Smoke from a battery for charging a mobile phone has caused visitors to temporarily evacuate at a major theme park in Osaka, western Japan.
Firefighters responded to a report that something was burning at Universal Studios Japan on Monday afternoon.
Police officers and firefighters say the mobile phone charger was in a visitors’ locker room at a popular attraction featuring the movie “Harry Potter.” Smoke filled the room for a while. All visitors in the room were safely evacuated.
The park operator says a visitor inadvertently kicked a charger that was lying on the floor, causing the charger to spark and generate smoke. Park employees put out the fire immediately.
The mobile charger used a lithium-ion battery.
Firefighters say there have been frequent fires caused by lithium-ion battery chargers across Japan.
Last December, service on Tokyo’s JR Yamanote Line was suspended after a passenger’s lithium-ion charger started giving off smoke.
Firefighters say lithium-ion batteries can cause fires if they are dropped or are otherwise jolted. They say overcharging can also cause fires.
Fire officials are warning against overcharging and overheating lithium-ion batteries.
Source and image: NHK
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