A suspected gas explosion tore through the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung City, Taiwan, on February 13, 2025, killing four people and injuring 29 others. The blast occurred around 11:33 a.m. local time on the 12th floor of the 14-story building, where renovation work was taking place in the food court area.
Among the victims were two tourists from Macau, a female department store employee, and a construction worker involved in the renovation project. Five additional visitors from Macau were among the injured, according to officials. Approximately 200 people were evacuated from the building following the explosion.
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, who felt the explosion’s impact from her nearby office, told reporters, “We’re doing all we can to rescue the disaster. Please give the rescuers better space to rescue.”
The emergency response was swift and substantial, with more than 130 firefighters and 50 vehicles dispatched to the scene. Search and rescue efforts involved 136 personnel, including specialized units with dogs and drones for thorough building inspection.
According to witnesses, the explosion blew four people out of the windows on the 12th floor. The blast caused extensive damage from the ninth floor upward, with debris scattered across surrounding streets and smoke billowing from the building. Window panels and exterior building materials rained down onto sidewalks and roads below.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi president Richard Wu expressed shock over the incident, stating, “The company will take responsibility for its part.”
Initial investigations suggest the cause may be linked to ongoing renovation work in the food court. The Taipei Times reported that witnesses observed a worker using a grinder to cut a gas pipeline prior to the explosion. The store had reportedly requested renovations but had not received proper approval or notified the fire department. Additionally, safety equipment was turned off during the construction work.
Among the injured was a two-year-old girl from Macau, who sustained serious injuries. Local authorities are providing assistance to all victims and their families.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te stated that “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 the department store, which is jointly operated by Taiwan’s Shin Kong Group and Japan’s Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd., to halt operations until safety can be confirmed. The investigation into the exact cause of the explosion continues, with multiple government agencies involved in the process.
The explosion occurred less than two months after a deadly fire at a Taichung food-processing plant, which investigators determined was caused by welding sparks igniting paint and insulation materials.
