Four killed in suspected gas blast

Blown off: Cladding, pieces of metal and other debris blasted off the building in the explosion. Rescuers are searching for survivors of the blast in the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in the city of Taichung. — AFP

A suspected gas explosion in a Taiwan department store killed at least four people and injured 26, authorities said, with the force of the blast spraying large pieces of debris over the street below.

Rescuers were searching for survivors of the blast in the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in the city of Taichung, the National Fire Agency said.