Overheating iPod Forces Japanese Train to a Halt

A busy Tokyo commuter train was forced to halt during rush hour Friday after passengers noticed a strong burning smell, according to Reuters.

The train came to a halt for eight minutes around 8:20 a.m. (2320 on Thursday) in western Tokyo's Setagaya Ward, 17 km (10.5 miles) from the capital's centre, while officials investigated the cause of the smell, said a spokesman for Tokyu Corp (9005.T).


"When a member of staff went to investigate inside the train, a passenger came over showing him that the iPod she was listening to had burst apart," the spokesman said, confirming local media reports. He added that there were no reports of injuries.

This comes after Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency and trade ministry requested an explanation of additional safety measures taken to prevent the devices from catching fire. Sixty such incidents have been reported in the country.

To appease the ministry, Apple agreed to replace the original iPod nano sold during September 2005 to December 2006 as rare cases can see the battery overheat.