30 injured in Taiwan department store explosion, death toll revised to 4

TAIPEI -- An explosion at a department store in the city of Taichung in central Taiwan has killed four people and injured 30 as of 8 pm on Thursday.

It was previously reported that five people had died in the explosion. However, one critically injured survivor with cardiac arrest was resuscitated, leading to the revision of death toll to four.

All those injured in the blast have been hospitalized, and no additional victims remain trapped in the department store, according to local authorities.

Taichung's municipal news bureau said that the emergency has been brought under control following a day of search and rescue work. The department store has been ordered to close its business, and prosecutorial authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blast.

The explosion occurred at about 11 am in a food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store, causing substantial damage to both the facade and interior of the building.

Taichung's fire department dispatched 27 fire engines and 62 firefighters to carry out the rescue mission. The municipal government immediately implemented traffic restrictions, and later set up an emergency response center to coordinate relevant departments in handling the incident and its aftermath.

Penalties will be handed to those found accountable for the explosion, and bereavement funds will be allocated accordingly, according to the municipal government.