At least four people have died and 26 are injured after a gas explosion blasted through a shopping mall in Taiwan on Thursday. The detonation occurred on the 12th-floor food court at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung City.
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It tore through the high floors of the department store, leaving four dead. Two of the victims were tourists visiting from Macau, as Macao's Tourism Office confirmed. Five of the injured were also visiting from Macao. Some of the injured bystanders are now recuperating at local hospitals.
Taiwan Shopping Mall Gas Explosion Kills 4
Firefighters arrived at the scene around 11:30 AM to find sections of the exterior building damaged. Fragments of the structure had also fallen onto the streets. The immensity of the emergency is clear, as they dispatched over 150 firefighters and around 50 vehicles to the scene.
Taichung Vice Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin revealed the possible cause of this deadly explosion to reporters on the scene. "If it's found there were illegal actions or parts that violated renovation regulations, it will be dealt with appropriately," said Cheng. They were performing renovations to a part of the department store, but we don't yet know if it's connected to the explosion.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen revealed how she could feel the shock of the blast from her office. Although her office is nearby, it still shows just how immense the explosion was. It left damage from the ninth floor and above, according to the fire department.
Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's President, requested government investigations into the cause of the accident. They were still investigating any other sources of danger, and firefighters have been continuing their rescue operation.
The president wrote a
Facebook message concerning the medical aid to the victims. He said the Ministry of Health and Welfare was "actively coordinating medical resources to provide the best medical assistance to the injured." The translated post also said that he wished the injured would have swift recoveries.Taichung's mayor also left a post
on Facebook. It translated to "We're doing all we can to rescue the disaster. Please give the rescuers better space to rescue." She also mentioned that they've activated traffic control on the surrounding roads. "All vehicles should avoid passing through the area to facilitate the smooth rescue operation."
