A gas explosion at Taichung’s Shin Kong Mitsukoshi killed four and injured over 30. Authorities are investigating while the store remains closed for safety checks.
A gas explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung on Thursday left four dead and over 30 injured. The Taichung City Government activated a Level 2 disaster response center. Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) ordered the store to close temporarily for safety, building management, and labor inspections before operations can resume.
Fire Bureau Director-General Sun Fu-you (孫福佑) said the explosion occurred on the 12th floor, which houses the food court. At the time of the incident, renovation was underway. Some workers reported smelling gas, though Shin Chung Natural Gas Co. stated the floor’s gas meter was removed days earlier and pipelines remained intact. The cause is under investigation.
Urban Development Bureau Director Li Cheng-wei (李正偉) prioritized emergency response and confirmed that architects have been deployed for structural assessment. However, he noted no renovation permits had been filed for the 11th and 12th floors.
Meanwhile, Mayor Lu pledged full support for victims and cooperation with prosecutors to determine the cause and hold responsible parties accountable to prevent similar incidents.