Two backpackers were nearly incinerated after e-bike exploded in hostel | World News

Two backpackers had a luck escape after an e-bike exploded and caught fire at their hostel.

The lithium-ion battery caught fire at the Mad Monkey Downtown Backpackers hostel in Sydney, Australia on Wednesday morning.

The explosion was caught on CCTV of the hostel’s corridor, which led to a huge fire spreading through the building and forced more than 70 guests and staff to evacuate.

Two backpackers were leaving their room shortly after 9am local time when the fireball suddenly exploded through the doorway, MailOnline reports.

Fire crews said a suspected faulty e-bike battery left on charge had probably caused the blast.

The two men caught up in the explosion were French nationals and they fled to safety before attending a nearby police station to ask for help.

One of the men, in his 20s, suffered minor burns to his leg and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for further treatment.

The fire investigation and research unit is working with police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

There have been dozens of fires and explosions caused by e-bike batteries closer to home – some with deadly consequences.

At least 137 e-bike or e-scooter fires have been reported in London so far this year, where three people have died and a further 50 were injured in the blazes.

London Fire Brigade has previously warned of the dangers posed by faulty e-bikes, and sadly a father died in Kentish Town after the battery pack set his house on fire.

Outside of London, a mum and two children from Cambridge died in a fire caused by a charging e-bike, while a man died in Liverpool trying to rescue his dad from an e-bike house fire.

Consumers are being warned to make sure they buy chargers from reputable sellers, due to a lack of regulation of items available to buy on online marketplaces.

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