A gas explosion at a department store in Taiwan on Thursday killed one man and left 11 others in hospital, fire authorities said.
The blast occurred on Thursday at the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung City.
Among the 11 people in hospital, four had no vital signs, authorities said.
Damaged facade of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store after an explosion in Taichung city (TVBS via AP )
Dozens of firefighters were deployed to the scene, where parts of the building’s exterior were damaged and scattered fragments were strewn on the streets.
Taichung deputy mayor Cheng Chao-hsin said he had been told the blast may have been caused by a suspected gas explosion, but that still needed to be confirmed.