Horrifying moment woman’s phone explodes in her pocket inside supermarket

A woman suffered severe burns when her phone exploded in her pocket inside a busy supermarket, sparking chaos as bystanders rushed to help.

A woman has suffered severe burns after her phone suddenly exploded in her back pocket while she was shopping at a supermarket.

Shocking CCTV footage captured the moment the device burst into flames as the woman stood next to her husband at the checkout counter in a store in Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil, on February 8.

The phone exploded in her back pocket while she was shopping at a supermarket in Brazil. Picture: CCTV

In the video, the woman can be seen casually waiting in line when her jeans suddenly catch fire. She panics, running frantically through the store as her husband, identified as Mateus Soares Lima, desperately tries to extinguish the flames.

Customers and staff watched in horror as the woman bolted out of the supermarket with the device still burning inside her pocket.

Once outside, bystanders rushed to help as Mateus pulled off his shirt to put out the flames.

She was quickly taken to Alfredo Abraão Hospital, where she was treated for second- and third-degree burns on her hand, forearm, back, and buttocks. Part of her hair was also singed in the terrifying ordeal.

The couple had purchased the Motorola Moto E32 just a year ago and were still making payments on it, according to Mateus. He said his wife was left traumatised by the incident and wanted to warn others about the potential dangers of phone batteries overheating.

“She is quite traumatised. I speak more to raise awareness because many people have children and this is very dangerous,” he told Brazilian news outlet G1.

“So, it is good to be alert because just like it happened to her, it can happen to other people.”

The shocking footage has since gone viral, sparking concerns over phone safety and battery malfunctions.

Her husband, identified as Mateus Soares Lima, desperately tried to extinguish the flames. Picture: CCTV

She was quickly taken to Alfredo Abraão Hospital, where she was treated for second- and third-degree burns. Picture: CCTV

Following the incident, Motorola released a statement confirming it had reached out to the victim to conduct a technical analysis of the device.

“Motorola informs that it has already contacted the consumer to investigate the details of the incident and arrange for a technical analysis of the device, an essential step to identify the cause of the incident,” the company said.

“The company prioritises the safety of its consumers and emphasises that all of its products are carefully designed and manufactured to the highest standards of quality, undergoing rigorous testing to ensure safe performance for the consumer.”

While the exact cause of the explosion remains unknown, experts have warned that lithium-ion batteries — found in most smartphones — can overheat and even combust under certain conditions.

The couple had purchased the Motorola Moto E32 just a year ago and were still making payments on it. Picture: Motorola

A report from Stanford University highlights that excessive heat, using non-certified chargers, and physical damage to batteries can all increase the risk of fire. Consumers are advised to avoid covering devices while charging, disconnect them from power once fully charged, and only use manufacturer-approved accessories.

This isn’t the first time a phone has caught fire unexpectedly. In September 2024, a teenager in Massachusetts suffered minor burns after her iPhone exploded while magnetically attached to an off-brand charger.

As investigations continue into the Brazilian case, experts urge smartphone users to take extra precautions when handling and charging their devices.

Originally published as Horrifying moment woman’s phone explodes in her pocket inside supermarket