Terrifying video footage shows a suspected gas explosion that resulted in at least four deaths and 26 injuries at a mall in the central city of Taichung in Taiwan, Reuters reports.
A dashcam clip recorded from traffic outside the building shows the sudden explosion at the exact moment it took place. Other footage shared by the Taichung Fire Department showed broken structures and twisted metal dangling from the ceiling and covering the floor as emergency workers used flashlights to clear through the wreckage.
The incident took place on the 12th story of the building where construction was taking place and resulted in damage from the ninth floor upwards, local fire officials confirmed in a statement. Two of the people killed and five injured were reported to be tourists from the gambling hub of Macau.
The Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store’s 12th floor food court was closed at the time of the explosion due to scheduled construction, according to fire officials. One person injured during the explosion was reported to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit.
An estimated 235 people were reported to have been evacuated from the building and surrounding area, according to CNN. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te confirmed that an investigation was launched to quickly determine the cause of the blast.
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