At least four people died as a result of an explosion at a shopping center in the city of Taichung, Taiwan. Several dozen were injured – local services inform. Tourists are among the victims. The cause of the explosion is underway, it is known that renovation works were underway in the shopping center.
The explosion took place on Thursday on the 12th floor of the Taichung shopping center around 11:30 (4:30 in Poland). According to local media, the death of one person was found on the spot, after a few hours the balance of fatalities increased to at least four. According to the fire brigade, 26 more people were injured, among them tourists were, but their nationality was not given. One of the wounded went to the intensive care unit – said the Taiwanese Ministry of Health.
Emergency services suspect that two people were trapped in the building elevator.
Taichung shopping center after the explosion, February 13, 2025.PAP/EPA/Ritchie B. Tongo
Explosion in a shopping center
The causes of the explosion are being determined. Initially, unconfirmed information about gas leakage during the exchange of cylinders in one of the restaurants appeared. However, the fire brigade spokesman only confirmed that renovation works were carried out on the 12th floor in the gastronomic zone. The president of Taiwan Lai Ching-Te called for a quick determination of the causes of the explosion.
Witnesses claim that the force of the explosion was so great that four people fell out of the windows. On the recording of monitoring in one of the surrounding stores you can see how customers and the employee run away when some of the items fell to the ground as a result of the shock, and the signs began to vibrate.
Taiwan. The moment of explosion on the recording from the shopping centerReuters
Source of the main photo: PAP/EPA/Ritchie B. Tongo