
Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Four people have been confirmed dead, and 20 others have been injured following a gas explosion in a Taichung mall on Thursday, authorities confirmed.
Also read: 2 members of Macau family dead in Taichung mall explosion
Operations have been suspended at the suspected explosion site -- the food court on the 12th floor of the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store, where reconstruction work had been taking place.
It is still unclear whether that work was the cause of the incident, the National Fire Agency (NFA) said.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said the city has set up an emergency response center with personnel from various departments including the Fire Bureau and Police Department to coordinate the rescue efforts.
She also urged the public to comply with traffic restrictions for safety reasons.
The NFA has deployed an emergency response team to assist in rescue operations. NFA Director-General Hsiao Huan-chang (蕭煥章) is leading the effort, the agency said in a statement.



Meanwhile, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office said that they have dispatched personnel to the site to investigate what caused the incident.
- Cross-Strait
Prosecution of Taiwan-based publisher used for CCP propaganda: MAC
03/17/2025 10:23 PM - Society
Criminal sentenced to 30 years wanted after jumping NT$70 million bail
03/17/2025 09:38 PM - Cross-Strait
Chinese 'military unification' influencer 'in theory' must go by 24th
03/17/2025 07:56 PM - Culture
'1st World Bird Fair' to be held in Taichung in September
03/17/2025 07:24 PM - Society
Pit bull leaps out of truck, bites motorcyclist for 2nd time this month
03/17/2025 07:01 PM