[kellyhound]

An explosion rocked the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang Store, a prominent department store in Xitun District, Taichung, Taiwan, at around 11am today, shattering glass windows and sending debris flying across the area. The blast was so powerful that it was heard and felt up to two kilometres away.

According to the Taichung Fire Department, the explosion appears to have originated on the 12th floor of the building. Rescue team confirmed the death of a man at the scene, while a woman with no signs of vital signs was rushed to the hospital.

Multiple other individuals sustained injuries, and authorities have activated a major casualty response protocol.

Taiwanese media outlets reported that four people were thrown by the force of the explosion, although details about the victims’ conditions remain unclear.

Update: The blast resulted in four deaths and 38 injuries.

Citing witness testimony, police yesterday said that an engineer saw a worker using a grinder to cut a gas pipeline.

Someone had asked about the location of the gas valve, it said, adding that witnesses reported smelling gas 20 minutes before the explosion.

The operator of the store on Jan. 25 sent a request to Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Taipei headquarters to conduct renovations on the 12th floor from Monday to March 12, the agency said.

As it had not yet received approval, it did not apply with the local fire department before starting renovations as planned, it added.

Firefighting equipment, including the gas leak prevention system, was shut off at the time of the explosion, which contravenes standard construction procedures,

[akham]

Looked like a scene from a movie!

[MikeyP]

Was that Hans Grüber laying there?

[jintsy]

John Woo's office

[kbt3168]

Gonna need a shitload of screen doors

[Vinnystruckn]

Match in the gas tank…..

[houseoftechno]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Citing witness testimony, police yesterday said that an engineer saw a worker using a grinder to cut a gas pipeline.

Plumber apprentice, Zing Ker Pow, was killed in the blast and unable to confirm the witness testimony.

[akham]

Originally Posted by houseoftechno ↗

Plumber apprentice, Zing Ker Pow, was killed in the blast and unable to confirm the witness testimony.

I wonder if Ho Lee Fuk, Sum Ting Wong or Bang Ding Ow were involved?

I heard they were working as tradesmen after being fired as pilots (for some reason).

Knowing China (based on info on this site) I suspect it was a kid who threw a match down the toilet.

[yah]

I guess they'll be having a fire sale now.

[Xploit Machine]

from the first video camera position and the explosion seem very intended