At least four dead after suspected gas blast at Taiwan mall

A suspected gas explosion at a department store in the central Taiwanese city of Taichung killed at least four people and injured 24 others on Thursday, the fire department said.

The blast occurred on the 12th floor of the building, where construction was taking place, with damage starting from the 9th floor, the department said in a statement.

The food court of the Taichung Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store on the 12th floor was closed at the time due to the building work, it added.

The health ministry said that one of the injured was in the intensive care unit of hospital.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, writing on his Facebook page, called for a speedy investigation into the cause of the blast.