A suspected gas explosion rocked the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taiwan’s city of Taichung on Thursday, leaving four people dead and another individual “without vital signs,” according to local authorities.
The blast, which occurred in the food court on the 12th floor, also injured 24 others, triggering a frantic search for survivors.
The Taichung Fire Agency reported that the floor where the explosion occurred was believed to be closed for construction at the time.
Dramatic footage shared on social media showed the moment the explosion sent large pieces of debris hurtling onto the street, with dust billowing from inside the building.
Liao Yu-fu, a 26-year-old resident living near the department store, described being startled awake by the explosion.
“There was a vibration and even my bed was shaking,” he told AFP. “The sound lasted for a long time and I was scared.” He initially thought it might be a plane crashing into a house.
Another witness, who was on the sixth floor when the incident happened, recalled a “very loud vibration” followed by falling debris. “At first, we thought it was an earthquake,” she told TVBS. “When I walked down the stairs, there was broken glass on every floor at the elevator entrance. Every floor is affected.”
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen said she was working in the city government building next door when she felt the tremor around 11:30 a.m.
“The explosion is very serious and the rescue is ongoing,” Lu said during a press briefing.
Emergency services deployed a large response team to the site, including 56 vehicles, 136 personnel, a search dog, and a drone to assist with rescue operations.
Taichung Fire Bureau Chief, Sun Fu-you, noted that the blast appeared to have been caused by gas, although the connection to the ongoing construction work remained uncertain.
Authorities urged the public to steer clear of the disaster zone for safety reasons.
Mayor Lu warned that the blast had affected a wide radius and mentioned that at least one passerby was among the victims.
“There are many office buildings and homes in this area, and we ask everyone to cooperate with the restrictions for your safety,” she added.
The explosion scattered metal, cladding, and debris across the footpath and nearby streets.
Video footage from the scene showed extensive damage near the elevators inside the store. One clip captured at least two people lying on the ground, while another showed rescuers providing medical assistance to an injured person.
