16 witnesses questioned as probe into Taichung mall explosion continues

Taichung/Taipei, Feb. 14 (CNA) Investigations into the deadly gas explosion at a Taichung mall on Thursday are ongoing, with 16 witnesses released Friday morning after overnight questioning.

None of the released have been named as suspects and the Taichung District Prosecutors Office said that investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing.

Feb. 13: Taichung department store ordered to suspend operations after fatal explosion

The 16 people questioned included construction workers and staff from the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store, where the explosion occurred, as well as employees of Shin Chung Natural Gas Co., Ltd., the store's gas provider.

Two of the individuals were working at the site of the explosion and sustained injuries to their hands and legs. They said the blast happened suddenly but did not provide more details.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the explosion had resulted in four deaths and 37 injuries as of 6 a.m. Friday.

Two of the deceased were an elderly couple from Macau who were hit by falling debris. They were part of a family of seven visiting Taiwan.

The other two people were working in the mall. A woman was found on the stairs between the 11th and 12th floors and was believed to be inspecting the construction site. A man was found near the 12th-floor safety ladder. No other details were given.

The incident occurred at around 11 a.m. on the 12th floor of the Taichung department store. The floor was undergoing construction and was closed to the public.

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

Sun Fu-you (孫福佑), the director-general of the Taichung Fire Bureau, told CNA that fire investigators had determined that the point of the explosion was on the 12th floor.

Initial investigations of the scene showed no explosives or evidence of a dust explosion. As construction workers at the site told prosecutors that they smelled gas, the explosion is initially deemed to be a gas explosion, he said.

A dust explosion happens when fine combustible particles in the air ignite, causing a rapid and powerful blast.

However, Shin Chung Natural Gas Co., Ltd. issued a statement on Thursday saying the gas pipes had been sealed off two days before the explosion took place.

Sun said further investigation is needed to ascertain whether residue gas in the pipelines caused the fire.

The department store was ordered to suspend operations Thursday and will not reopen until it is deemed safe to do so, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said.

The mall will likely be hit with a fine of NT$1.2 million (US$36,590). This includes a NT$600,000 fine from the Fire Bureau, NT$300,000 from the Urban Development Bureau and NT$300,000 from the Labor Affairs Bureau.

The mall has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation.

The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) has also extended its condolences to the surviving family members visiting from Macau and said it would assist them in whatever necessary.