2 members of Macau family dead in Taichung mall explosion

Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) Two members of a Macau family were killed and five others injured in the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store gas explosion on Thursday, according to authorities.

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The grandfather was pronounced dead at the scene, while the grandmother suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and was proclaimed dead at the hospital, said Tsai Che-hung (蔡哲宏), vice president of Cheng Ching Hospital Chung Kang Branch.

Their 2-year-old granddaughter was taken to the hospital by her mother and was found to have serious head and back injuries. She was later transferred to China Medical University Hospital, where her parents -- both lightly injured -- accompanied her, Tsai said.

The girl's uncle suffered from light grazes and lacerations to his face, Tsai said.

Meanwhile, at Lin Shin Hospital, the girl's great-grandmother, aged 85, is being treated and is in a stable condition, according to the hospital.

The seven family members were passing by the department store on their way to another department store when the 12th-floor explosion caused debris to fall from the building, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said.

The city government will contact all those injured and their families to offer condolences. It added that Shin Kong Mitsukoshi will be held fully accountable for compensation and medical expenses.

As of press time, all search and rescue missions have concluded and no more individuals are trapped in the building, local authorities confirmed.

The Taichung City Government Fire Bureau said the incident resulted in 4 deaths and 26 injuries.

Taichung Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin (鄭照新) told the press that structural and civil engineers have entered the site to examine the building structure.

Cheng said the legality of the building, the explosion's origin and its cause are all being investigated by the government and prosecution.

The city will make every effort to investigate the accident, he said.

Video footage of the explosion showed debris falling from the building onto the streets. The windows and exterior walls of the 12th floor were blown off during the blast, revealing the ruined interior.