TAIPEI. A suspected gas explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung, central Taiwan, left at least four people dead and 26 others injured on Thursday, including tourists from Macau, according to local fire officials.
The blast occurred on the 12th floor, where construction work was underway, and caused structural damage from the ninth floor upwards, the Taichung Fire Department stated in an official release. Among the casualties, two of the deceased and five of the injured were tourists from Macau, authorities confirmed.
The food court on the 12th floor, where the explosion happened, had been closed for renovations at the time of the incident, the fire department added. However, the force of the blast still led to significant destruction within the building, prompting immediate rescue operations.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health reported that among the injured, one individual remains in intensive care.
In response to the tragedy, President Lai Ching-te took to Facebook, urging authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Authorities are continuing their assessment of the damage and investigating whether gas leaks or other safety lapses contributed to the deadly incident. More updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- Gary P Hernalhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
