On February 13, 2025, a probable gas explosion occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung City, Taiwan, resulting in four deaths and injuring 29 individuals. The explosion, which occurred around 11:33 a.m. local time, originated from the 12th floor of the 14-story building where a renovation project was underway in the food court.
The casualties included two tourists from Macau, a woman working at the department store, and a construction laborer involved in the remodeling project. According to official sources, five more visitors from Macau were among the injured. Following the explosion, approximately 200 people were evacuated from the premises.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, whose office is near the explosion site, addressed reporters, stating, “We’re doing all we can to rescue the disaster. Please give the rescuers better space to rescue.”
The response to the emergency was immediate and significant, with over 130 firefighters and 50 vehicles swiftly sent to the scene. Search and rescue operations involved 136 personnel, including specialized teams with dogs and drones for meticulous building inspection.
Eye witnesses reported that the blast propelled four individuals out of the 12th-floor windows. The explosion caused severe damage from the ninth floor upward, showering the surrounding streets with debris and filling the air with smoke. Exterior materials and window panes were strewn across the sidewalks and roads below.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s president, Richard Wu, was shocked by the incident and said, “The company will take responsibility for its part.”
Initial investigations indicate that the cause of the explosion could be linked to the ongoing renovations in the food court. The Taipei Times reported that witnesses noticed a worker cutting a gas pipeline with a grinder before the explosion. The store had requested renovations without obtaining proper approval or notifying the fire department. Furthermore, safety devices were turned off during the construction process.
Among those injured was a two-year-old girl from Macau who sustained severe injuries. Local authorities are extending support to all victims and their families.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te stated, “The Ministry of Health and Welfare was actively coordinating medical resources to provide the best medical assistance to the injured.”
The Taichung city government has ordered a temporary halt to the department store’s operations until safety measures can be ensured. The store is a joint venture between Taiwan’s Shin Kong Group and Japan’s Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Several government agencies are participating in the investigation into the precise cause of the explosion.
This explosion follows a fatal fire at a Taichung food-processing plant less than two months ago, which was determined to have been caused by welding sparks igniting paint and insulation materials.