A suspected gas explosion at a department store in Taiwan has killed four people and left eight hospitalised, fire authorities said.
The blast occurred at the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city, the Taichung Fire Bureau said.
Among the dead were two people visiting from Macau, while a third was severely injured, Macao's Tourism Office confirmed on Thursday. Local media reported that they were part of a family of seven who were there for tourism.
Dozens of firefighters were deployed to the scene at about 11.30am. Parts of the building’s exterior were damaged and scattered fragments were strewn on the streets.
A woman, who had been on the sixth floor of the store at the time, said there was a "very loud vibration" and then debris began falling.
"At first, we thought it's an earthquake," the woman told local broadcaster TVBS.
"When I walked down the stairs, there was broken glass on every floor at the elevator entrance. Every floor is affected."
Resident Liao Yu-fu, 26, who can see the department store from his home, said he was woken up by the sound of the explosion and thought it was a "plane hitting a house".
He told the AFP news agency: "There was a vibration and even my bed was shaking.
"The sound lasted for a long time and I was scared."
Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen told reporters at the scene that she felt the shock at her office nearby. She said the fire bureau would focus on a rescue operation first, but an investigation was also underway and officers were checking whether there were other sources of danger.
She added that at least one passer-by were among the victims and that the explosion had affected a wide area.
"There are many office buildings and homes in this area and we ask everyone to cooperate with the restrictions for your safety," Lu said.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said he had asked all relevant government agencies to investigate the cause of the accident.
