Smoke Incident at NYC Subway Station Injures 18 and Disrupts Service

A piece of equipment made contact with the third rail, causing sparks and smoke at the 191st Street station, leading to minor injuries and service delays.

The incident occurred at the 191st Street subway station in Manhattan around 12:50 PM on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.
A piece of equipment struck the third rail, causing sparks and heavy smoke, but no active fire was reported, according to the FDNY.
Eighteen people suffered minor injuries, primarily from smoke inhalation, with 16 transported to local hospitals and two declining treatment.
The smoke was cleared within an hour, but subway service on the 1 line between 145th and 215th streets was disrupted, with delays and alternative travel options provided.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, and the MTA has replaced the damaged rail at the station.