A deadly explosion rocked the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung, Taiwan’s second-largest city, on Thursday, leaving one person dead and four others reportedly “without vital signs,” Al Jazeera reports, citing authorities.
Seven additional individuals sustained injuries in the blast.
The National Fire Agency reported that the explosion occurred in the food court located on the 12th floor of the department store, situated approximately 160km southwest of Taipei. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation, but authorities believe the area was closed for construction work at the time of the incident.
In response to the emergency, the local fire department dispatched a significant force, deploying 56 vehicles and 136 personnel to conduct search and rescue operations within the damaged structure.
Video footage captured by TVBS Taiwan shows the moment of the explosion, with cladding and debris erupting from the building and a large plume of dust billowing outwards.
