Suspected gas explosion kills four at Taiwan department store

by Akio Wang and I-Hwa Cheng with Amber Wang in Taipei

A suspected gas explosion in a Taiwan department store killed at least four people and injured 26, authorities said on Thursday, with the force of the blast spraying large pieces of debris over the street below.

Rescuers were searching for survivors of the blast in the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in the city of Taichung, the National Fire Agency said.

The floor was closed for construction work at the time of the incident, the agency said.

Video posted on social media and verified by AFP showed the moment of the explosion, with cladding and other debris flying off the building and dust billowing from inside.

Liao Yu-fu, 26, told AFP he was woken from a nap by the sound of the explosion and thought it was a "plane hitting a house".

"There was a vibration and even my bed was shaking," said Liao, who can see the department store from his home.

"The sound lasted for a long time and I was scared."

A woman who had been on the sixth floor of the store at the time said there was a "very loud vibration" and then debris began falling.

"At first, we thought it's an earthquake," the woman told local broadcaster TVBS.

"When I walked down the stairs, there was broken glass on every floor at the elevator entrance. Every floor is affected."

The blast killed four people and injured 26, the National Fire Agency said.

A person initially described as "without vital signs" had been revived and was added to the injury toll.

A family of seven from Macau were among the casualties after they were hit by falling debris as they left the department store, a hospital official told reporters.

Two grandparents died and the five others were injured, including a two-year-old child, who suffered a severe head wound, the official said.

- 'Explosion is very serious' -

Images released by the National Fire Agency showed extensive damage inside the department store, with twisted metal hanging from the ceiling and covering the floor.

Floors nine to 12 were affected, the fire agency said.

More than 200 people were evacuated from the store and six people rescued from elevators.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen told reporters she had been working in the city government building next door when she felt a "vibration" at around 11:30 am.

"The explosion is very serious and the rescue is ongoing," Lu said.

The fire department sent 56 vehicles, 136 people, a dog and a drone to carry out search and rescue efforts, the fire agency said.

Taichung Fire Bureau Chief Sun Fu-you told reporters the blast appeared to have been caused by gas but it was unclear if it was related to the construction work.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi president Richard Wu said the company was "very shocked and very sad" about the incident.

"We will do our best to take all responsibilities for the parts we are responsible for," Wu told reporters at the scene.

The fire agency urged people to stay away from the disaster site.

Lu said the explosion had affected a wide area and 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," Lu said.

The blast scattered large pieces of metal, cladding and debris over the footpath outside the department store and nearby streets.

© Agence France-Presse