A woman sustained burns after a portable battery exploded at Cineworld in Union Square, Aberdeen, on Saturday night, leading to the evacuation of the shopping centre and a major emergency response.
Incident Details
The alarm was raised around 8pm on Saturday, July 4, when a power bank caught fire inside the cinema. Staff extinguished the blaze before emergency services arrived. Police Scotland confirmed the call at 7.55pm, and the premises were evacuated as a precaution, with no wider risk to the public.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched four appliances and a height appliance to the scene, arriving at 7:54pm and departing by 8:25pm. A female casualty was treated for burns by the Scottish Ambulance Service and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Emergency Response
Photos and videos from the scene showed a significant emergency presence, with blue-lit ambulances and fire vehicles locking down the popular city centre spot. Concerned shoppers and passers-by gathered outside the precinct.
A Police Scotland spokesperson stated: “Around 7.55pm on Saturday, 4 July, 2026, police were called to attend the Guild Street area of Aberdeen after a report of a small battery pack exploding within a premises. The premises was evacuated as a precaution and there was no wider risk to the public. A woman later attended hospital for treatment to minor injuries.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson added: “We were out at Cineworld in Union Square for a power bank that went on fire. It was extinguished by staff before we arrived. We got a call at 7:54pm on July 4. We sent four appliances and a height appliance to the seat. We left at 8:25pm. One female casualty was treated for burns by the Scottish Ambulance Service.”
Context
A power bank is a portable battery that stores electrical energy to charge electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops on the go. The incident highlights potential risks associated with such devices.
