Latest news with #commuters
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Watch: Pensioner sets tube on fire in Seoul
A South Korean pensioner accused of setting fire to a busy metro carriage has been charged with attempted murder and arson. A short CCTV clip released by the court shows the terrifying moment the 67-year-old man in a white cap is alleged to launched his attack in Seoul, the capital, apparently out of spite following a recent divorce, according to reports. He reaches for a bottle inside his bag, and seconds later is pouring a flammable liquid across the train floor and the commuters around him. Unnerved passengers scramble to get out of the carriage – in the rush, one woman slams into the floor after slipping on the liquid, losing her shoes in the process. But within 10 seconds the metro car is empty, a phone and black rucksack among the items left behind in the frenzy to flee. Moments later, the pensioner has ignited the blaze and the train goes up in flames. The incident took place on May 31 and the man, referred to by his surname Won, has been accused of endangering the lives of 160 passengers on board, while causing damages estimated at more than 300 million won (£161,000). 'Spraying a large amount of gasoline on a subway used by an unspecified number of passengers and then setting it on fire, causing a large-scale fire and spreading toxic gases, is an act of murder tantamount to terrorism,' the prosecution said, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap. 'If the evacuation had been delayed, the possibility of casualties would have been very high.' According to the newspaper Korea JoongAng, Won was charged with violating the Railroad Safety Act. Soon after the blaze first occurred, news outlets reported that the man ignited the fire out of spite, following a court decision related to his recent divorce. Six people were injured during the blaze and 23 taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation and sprains – including Won, who was arrested shortly after the incident took place.
News.com.au
a day ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Why?': Public transport commuters baffled by common act
A seemingly simple act on public transport has left Melbourne commuters puzzled, sparking a debate online about why many choose to stand rather than sit on a tram, even when plenty of seats are available. A user posted a photo on Reddit of an empty tram seat, surrounded by standing passengers, with the caption: 'People who prefer to stand than take a free seat on public transport, why?' The original poster elaborated: 'Hear me out, I know people like to stand up and be ready to go, but when the tram is clearly full and people are struggling to get on, what's the reason for not sitting? 'Even when the tram isn't full, why not sit while in a moving vehicle?' They also mentioned witnessing a woman 'smash her head' on the tram floor after falling backwards from a sudden stop. 'She was bleeding, and at her age, lucky to be alive,' they said. 'Maybe we are all complacent until we see someone bleeding'. Reasons for standing The post quickly went viral, attracting hundreds of comments from Melburnians offering various reasons for their preference to stand. Many said it helps avoid getting trapped as the tram fills up and makes it easier to hop off at busy stops. 'I've always thought people stand to avoid getting stuck and unable to get off,' said one commenter, with another adding, 'Agree, especially if it's a short stop and you're getting on before a rush of people'. Others said it was sometimes 'awkward' to navigate crowded aisles to reach a seat, so they just don't bother. And for some, standing was just a welcome break from sitting at a desk all day. 'I sit down in my office all day, so I prefer to stand,' said one, while another echoed: 'I sit enough'. Seat size plays a role The size of public transport seats was another point raised. 'I'm a 6'1 man and the seats are made for tiny munchkin people,' said one. 'Even if I'm lucky and the person across from me has short legs, we'll still knock knees. So I have to sit with my feet crammed under the seat if I don't want to play footsie,' complained a fed-up commuter. 'There is no socially appropriate way to sit in those seats,' chimed in someone else. 'Either your feet block the aisle or you're knee to crotch with someone else'. 'There's no such thing as personal space in those seats,' agreed a third. Meanwhile, some people said for them, it was more about hygiene. 'Hear me out … people are gross,' said one. 'I've seen enough disgusting hygiene on public transport to know I want to be nowhere near those seats'. Others just didn't want to ruin their nice clothes by sitting down on a potentially dirty seat. And some felt sitting for just a few stops wasn't worth it. 'I'm often not going far,' said one commuter. 'If I sit down, I'll probably just have to get up for someone who needs it more,' added another. A different person mentioned they didn't see the issue with standing in the first place, as it's not physically taxing. Safety considerations contacted Transport for Victoria for a comment, who directed us to their safety page. It states: 'Because our trams often share roads with other traffic, unexpected stops can occur. Always sit whenever possible and hold on to a pole, handle or strap if you're standing'. The transport authority also advises commuters to adopt a 'feet apart, strong stance' when standing to prevent falling over.
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- Climate
- UAE Moments
Fog Risk & Blowing Dust: UAE Weather Today, June 26, 2025
Residents across the UAE can expect fair to partly cloudy skies today, with clouds developing in the eastern regions by afternoon. The night and early Friday morning will turn humid, with a chance of fog or mist, especially over some coastal and internal areas. Light to moderate northwesterly to southwesterly winds will prevail, occasionally freshening up to 40 km/h, leading to blowing dust during the day. Those in mountainous areas may also experience northeasterly gusts. Temperature and Humidity Forecast: Sea Conditions: Key weather alerts: Prepare for dusty conditions, reduced visibility from possible fog, and high humidity levels tonight. Stay safe while commuting and limit outdoor activities during the peak heat.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Sydney M4 crash: Major delays after collision involving four vehicles
A multi-vehicle accident involving four cars has resulted in substantial traffic congestion on the M4 motorway. The M4 is one of the primary citybound routes from Sydney 's western suburbs to the city.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- CBS News
Eastbound 10 Freeway lanes blocked in West Los Angeles after fuel spill
A diesel fuel spillage on the 10 Freeway in West Los Angeles on Wednesday caused traffic to stop during the morning commuting hours, according to Caltrans. A SigAlert was issued at about 7:53 a.m. near the Robertson Boulevard exit in the Palms neighborhood of L.A. A fuel spill on the eastbound lanes of the 10 freeway caused stop traffic on the morning of Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The three right lanes were blocked as of 8:46 a.m. as crews worked to clean up the fuel spillage. Caltrans urged travelers to take an alternate route. Those routes include Venice and Santa Monica boulevards. Officials expected the closure to last about another hour as of 8:30 a.m. Caltrans indicated that traffic backed up as far as South Western Avenue. It's not yet clear how the spillage occurred or if any injuries were reported.
