Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    TWELVE people, including two pregnant women, were slightly injured in a panic at the Huangbeiling Metro Station, an interchange station on the Huanzhong Line and Shekou Line, during rush hour early yesterday morning.

    The panic started when a female passenger fainted and fell on the floor at 8:30 a.m. while commuters were waiting to board a Huanzhong Line train. According to a release by the Shenzhen Metro company, the woman fainted because she hadn’t eaten breakfast.

    Although most people weren’t aware of what had happened, hundreds of passengers panicked for about two minutes. Shoes, newspapers and breakfast boxes were left littered across the platform floor, the company said yesterday.

    A female passenger, surnamed Chen, thought the panic was a personal dispute at first.

    “ I suddenly realized the situation was even worse when I saw dozens of people run towards my direction with fear and worry on their faces,” said Chen. “Some people fell to the floor and I felt like a huge strength might push me to the ground.”

    The Shenzhen Metro company apologized for the incident on its official microblog, saying it hoped passengers could keep calm and evacuate calmly when emergencies occurred in crowded areas. Panicking reactions in a confined space can create dangerous situations, it said.

    The operator said 12 people with slight injuries were sent to Luohu People’s Hospital and Luohu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    Two pregnant women who were knocked to the ground were in stable condition, according to Luohu People’s Hospital, where they were treated.

    It said in the case of someone passing out, passengers should try to take care of the person and call 120 for help.