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2025 Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi gas explosion

Coordinates: 24°9′55″N 120°38′37″E / 24.16528°N 120.64361°E / 24.16528; 120.64361
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2025 Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi gas explosion
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi after the explosion
Native name 台中新光三越氣爆
Date13 February 2025 (2025-02-13)
Time11:33 a.m. (TST)
LocationXitun District, Taichung, Taiwan
Coordinates24°9′55″N 120°38′37″E / 24.16528°N 120.64361°E / 24.16528; 120.64361
Deaths4
Non-fatal injuries39

On 13 February 2025, a gas explosion occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in the Xitun District of Taichung, Taiwan. Four people were killed, including two tourists from Macau who were struck by debris, and 39 were injured, making it the deadliest incident in the history of Taiwanese department stores.

Explosion

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A photo of the explosion

At 11:33 (Taiwan Time) on 13 February 2025, the Taichung Fire Bureau was notified of a suspected gas explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in the Xitun District portion of Taichung's 7th Redevelopment Zone.[1][2] The explosion was traced to a food court on the 12th floor of the building,[3][4] which was closed for construction at the time.[5][6] The explosion occurred while counters were being dismantled,[7] and the blast blew debris from the upper floors into the street.[8]

By 19:20 that evening, all search and rescue missions had ended with the evacuation of all people in the building.[9]

Casualties

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Initial reports by the government suggested six were killed in the blast, which was later revised to four by the fire agency.[10] A family of seven from Macau, who were on a vacation, was walking past the department store on the sidewalk at the time of explosion.[7] The grandparents of the two-year-old were killed by falling debris while the girl was seriously injured.[11][9][12] Two of the victims, a department store staff member and a construction worker,[13] died inside the building's 11th and 12th floors.[7]

A total of 39 people were injured; 34 Taiwanese and the other five members of the Macanese family.[14][15][16] Five of the victims were described as being in serious condition.[17] The explosion is the deadliest incident in the history of Taiwanese department stores.[18]

The injured sought treatment at hospitals around Taiwan, including China Medical University Hospital, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Lin Shin Hospital, the Chung Kang branch of the Cheng Ching Hospital (all in Taichung), as well as the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan and Kaohsiung, and Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei.[19]

Investigation

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The National Fire Agency linked the incident to ongoing renovations or a gas leak in the building.[2] The Shin Chung Natural Gas Company said the gas was disconnected at the time, but constructors there said they smelled gas while working.[20][21] The Taichung City Government ordered store operations to be suspended indefinitely until the results of further investigations were revealed.[22] The Urban Development Bureau of the Taichung City Government said it did not receive renovation applications at the time and was considering the imposition of penalties.[23] Taichung Fire Bureau Chief Sun Fu-you said that fines of up to NT$1.2 million could be imposed on the department store for violations of the Fire Services Act, failure to apply for a work permit in violation of the Building Act and violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.[7]

The Taichung District Prosecutors Office questioned 16 people in the aftermath of the explosion, including construction workers and staff of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi and Shin Chung Natural Gas Company personnel.[24] Investigators later found that firefighting equipment, including gas leak detectors, had been turned off on the 12th floor at the time of the explosion.[25][26]

Reactions

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Two off-duty nurses affiliated with Changhua Christian Hospital provided medical assistance to the injured until additional medical professionals arrived.[27] Changhua Christian Hospital awarded the nurses NT$100,000 for their efforts.[14]

Shortly after the explosion, the Mainland Affairs Council promised to report the incident to the Macau Government, and the Macau Government Tourism Office confirmed that at least three casualties were Macanese visitors to Taiwan.[28][8][29]

Shin Kong Group president Richard Wu said they would take responsibility for the incident, as the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi "takes an important role of shopping in our society",[30] and also offered NT$1 million in compensation to families of the deceased.[31] SKM later increased the compensation offered to NT$11 million.[32]

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an canceled a planned appearance later in the day of the explosion and offered his city's assistance. Kaohsiung city officials also offered Taichung assistance.[33]

On 15 February, President Lai Ching-te met with the injured people being treated at Lin Shin Hospital and Taichung Veterans General Hospital.[14] Lai also prefaced a speech delivered at a press conference the following day by expressing concern for those affected by the explosion.[34]

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2025 Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi gas explosion.

References

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  1. ^ Su, Mu-chun; Chen, Christie. "Several injured in suspected gas explosion at Taichung department store". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b Hsu, Kuo-chen; Madjar, Kayleigh (13 February 2025). "Taichung explosion kills four, rescue ongoing". The Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  3. ^ Su, Mu-chun; Chen, Christie; Hou, Elaine (13 February 2025). "One dead, 10 injured in explosion at Taichung department store (update 1)". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  4. ^ Hsiao, Po-yang; Su, Mu-chun; Liu, Chien-pang; Wu, Kuan-hsien (13 February 2025). "4 dead, 20 injured in Taichung mall blast (update 2)". Central News Agency. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ^ "At least five dead after suspected gas blast at Taiwan mall". Reuters. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. ^ Yeung, Jessie; Chang, Wayne (13 February 2025). "Deadly gas explosion in Taiwan tears through shopping mall floor, kills at least five". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Hao, Hsueh-ching; Kao, Evelyn (13 February 2025). "Taichung department store ordered to suspend operations after fatal explosion". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Gas explosion at Taiwan food court kills 4 and leaves 8 hospitalized". Associated Press News. 13 February 2025. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025. Republished as: "Gas explosion at Taiwan food court kills 4 and leaves 8 hospitalized". Washington Post. Associated Press. 13 February 2025.
  9. ^ a b Hao, Hsueh-ching; Tsai, Chih-ming; Hsiao, Po-yang; Wu, Kuan-hsien (13 February 2025). "2 members of Macau family dead in Taichung mall explosion". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  10. ^ "台中新光三越爆炸搜救結束 共4死26傷 事故原因仍待調查疑因12樓施工 (16:39) - 20250213 - 兩岸". Ming Pao (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  11. ^ "台中新光三越氣爆｜澳門一家七口路過被瓦礫砸中兩亡 女童送醫恢復生命迹象". Ming Pao (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Explosion at Taiwan department store kills one". Al Jazeera Media Network. 13 February 2025. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  13. ^ TTV (13 February 2025). "死者身分曝！台中新光三越氣爆4死 23歲女員工11樓電梯口慘死". 台視新聞網 (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Lee, I-chia (16 February 2025). "President calls for safety work after Taichung blast". Taipei Times. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  15. ^ Chao, Li-yen; Lai, Sunny (14 February 2025). "Toddler undergoes brain surgery after Taichung mall explosion". Central News Agency. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  16. ^ Su, Mu-chun; Lai, Sunny. "Man recalls frantic drive to save toddler hurt in Taichung blast". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  17. ^ 謝佳興 (15 February 2025). "台中新光三越氣爆案新增1傷者 仍有11人住院治療" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Radio Taiwan International. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  18. ^ 梁溶珈 (13 February 2025). "全台最賺錢百貨出事了！年營業額飆破258億，台中新光三氣爆4死20傷" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). The Storm Media. Retrieved 13 February 2025. 這起工安意外被認為是台灣史上最嚴重的百貨公司公安事故。
  19. ^ Chao, Li-yen; Lo, James (16 February 2025). "Toddler, 10 others injured in Taichung mall blast still hospitalized". Central News Agency. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  20. ^ 蘇孟娟 (13 February 2025). "台中新光三越氣爆 消防局長孫福佑：12樓瓦斯氣爆、排除粉塵爆炸" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Liberty Times. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  21. ^ "台中新光三越氣爆釀4死26傷 消防局初步研判瓦斯氣爆" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Yahoo News. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  22. ^ "快訊／新光三越氣爆釀30死傷 中市府開鍘：無限期停業至結果出爐" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). ETtoday. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  23. ^ 白珈陽; 莊智勝 (13 February 2025). "台中新光三越氣爆！疑12F裝修惹禍 都發局長：沒收到櫃位施工申請" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). ETtoday. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  24. ^ Su, Mu-chun; Hao, Hsueh-ching; Lee, Ya-wen; Chao, Li-yen; Wu, Kuan-hsien (14 February 2025). "16 witnesses questioned as probe into Taichung mall explosion continues". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  25. ^ Su, Mu-chun; Liu, Kay (14 February 2025). "Prosecutors investigate manslaughter in deadly Taichung explosion". Central News Agency. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  26. ^ Garcia, Sam; Madjar, Kayleigh (15 February 2025). "Renovations examined after mall blast". Taipei Times. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  27. ^ Cheng, Wei-chen; Wu, Kuan-hsien (14 February 2025). "Nurse recounts assisting victims in aftermath of Taichung mall explosion". Central News Agency. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  28. ^ 陳宥菘 (13 February 2025). "澳門遊客遇氣爆2死5傷 陸委會：積極提供必要協助". 經濟日報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). United Daily News. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  29. ^ Zhuang, Sylvie; Chung, Lawrence. "2 Macau residents among 4 dead in Taichung department store blast: Taiwan media". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  30. ^ 黃旭磊; 蘇金鳳 (13 February 2025). "台中新光三越氣爆釀重大傷亡 總經理吳昕陽急赴現場「會負起相關責任」" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Liberty Times. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  31. ^ Huang, Hsu-lei; Chiu, Chih-jou; Yeh, Esme (13 February 2025). "Four killed in Taichung mall explosion". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  32. ^ Wu, Che-hao; Su, Mu-chun; Lin, Ko (15 February 2025). "Taichung mall offers families of blast victims NT$11 million each". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  33. ^ Thomson, Jono (13 February 2025). "Taichung mall explosion kills 4, injures 20". Taiwan News. Retrieved 17 February 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ "President Lai holds press conference following high-level national security meeting". Office of the President, Republic of China (Taiwan). 15 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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