Singapore subway breakdown strands thousands

Singapore subway operator SMRT Corp. Ltd. has apologized for a nearly five-hour breakdown in service late Thursday that stranded thousands of commuters during peak rush hours.

SMRT said in a statement Friday that a disruption on the busy North-South rail shut four trains at about 6:50 p.m. Service did not resume until almost midnight.

The Straits Times reported passengers stranded up to an hour without air conditioning or lighting smashed cabin windows with fire extinguishers to get fresh air.

SMRT said its staff eventually led passengers out along the tracks of the subway tunnels to safety.

The Straits Times said it was the worst service breakdown in the subway system's 24-year history.