A catastrophic gas explosion tore through the 12th floor of a bustling shopping mall in Taichung, Taiwan, on Thursday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least five lives. The explosion, which occurred midday, left 20 others injured and caused significant structural damage to the building. The incident took place in a food court area that was under construction on the 12th floor.
The National Fire Agency promptly led rescue efforts, deploying over 130 firefighters to the scene. The Taichung Fire Department released video footage revealing the extensive damage, with the floor largely reduced to rubble. The force of the blast was so intense that it created trenches in nearby roads, overturned vehicles, and left one car stranded on the roof of a three-story building.
As smoke billowed from the mall's upper level, window panels rained down onto sidewalks and roads below, causing chaos in traffic. Emergency services swiftly evacuated approximately 235 people from the building and surrounding areas to ensure their safety. The health ministry activated its resources to provide medical assistance to the injured victims.
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion. President Lai Ching-te has urged officials to expedite their inquiries to determine what led to this devastating incident. Tragically, Taiwan is no stranger to such catastrophes; a series of gas explosions in Kaohsiung in 2014 claimed over two dozen lives and injured hundreds more.
