An explosion occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung City around 11 a.m. on February 13, resulting in five deaths and 13 injuries of varying severity. According to Taiwanese media reports, the incident occurred in the food court area of the department store, which was undergoing construction work at the time. Fire departments swiftly arrived at the scene and launched comprehensive search and rescue operations. Preliminary investigations indicate the explosion was caused by a gas leak, though authorities are still determining whether it was directly related to the construction activities.

According to eyewitness accounts, the scene descended into chaos immediately after the explosion, with evacuating customers and staff fleeing in panic. Following the incident, relevant authorities swiftly activated emergency response protocols, restoring preliminary order at the site. Injured individuals have been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, though specific injuries and cause of death remain pending further investigation.

The operator of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store stated that it will fully cooperate with relevant authorities in investigating the cause of the incident and promptly release updates on the latest developments. Relevant departments are conducting a comprehensive examination of the accident site to reconstruct the facts as quickly as possible and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.