Fire Under New Jersey PATH Train Hospitalizes Nine, Suspends Service

A fire broke out beneath a PATH train at Newport Station in Jersey City early Monday morning, filling the train cars with thick smoke and forcing an emergency evacuation of passengers. The incident caused major disruptions to the morning commute, suspending PATH service between Journal Square and 33rd Street, as well as between Hoboken and the World Trade Center, though service between Hoboken and 33rd Street later resumed. At least 13 passengers were treated for smoke inhalation, with nine hospitalized, but no serious injuries were reported. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before the fire started and saw flames engulfing the train car, with video footage capturing passengers evacuating amid heavy smoke. Emergency teams and the Port Authority responded quickly, and NJ Transit and NY Waterway began accepting PATH tickets to provide alternative travel options. The cause of the fire remains under investigation as officials work to determine its origin.