An explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zhonggang Store in Taichung last month that left five people dead was caused by a gas leak, an official fire investigation report confirmed yesterday.
In a brief statement, the Taichung Fire Bureau said it had concluded its investigation into the Feb. 13 blast and found that it had been caused by a gas explosion.
The statement did not provide any other details from the report, other than identifying cigarette butts, electrical wires, a gas pipe and a circular saw as key evidence found at the scene.
Photo: CNA
The report, which was not released publicly, is to be handed over to prosecutors for further examination and potential legal action against those responsible, the bureau said.
However, sources familiar with the matter on Thursday said the leak likely occurred because of an ongoing project at the department store.
The department store had commissioned Shin Chung Natural Gas Co to shut off the main gas supply due to planned layout changes, the sources said.
However, residual gas likely remained in the branch pipes, which was not purged before construction work began, the sources said.
As a result, accumulated gas at the site ignited when a grinder was used to cut the pipes and it created sparks, triggering the explosion, they said.
Prosecutors said the explosion is being investigated as a case of negligent homicide, negligence resulting in injuries and public endangerment.
The incident occurred at about 11am on the 12th floor of the Taichung department store. The floor was undergoing construction work and was closed to the public.
Video footage of the explosion showed debris blasting from the building and scattering onto the streets below. The windows and exterior walls of the 12th floor were blown off, revealing the ruined interior.
Among the victims of the severe blast was a family of seven from Macau who had been passing by the department store at the time.
The grandparents perished in the blast, while a two-year-old girl, initially in critical condition, was airlifted back to Macau for treatment, but succumbed to her injuries on March 7, bringing the total death toll to five.
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