Another 24 people were injured and a search was underway 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.
Video posted on social media and verified by AFP showed the moment of the explosion, with cladding and other debris flying off the building and dust billowing from inside.
“There was a vibration and even my bed was shaking,“ said Liao, who can see the department store from his home.
A woman, who had been on the sixth floor of the store at the time, said there was a “very loud vibration” and then debris began falling.
“When I walked down the stairs, there was broken glass on every floor at the elevator entrance. Every floor is affected.”
“The explosion is very serious and the rescue is ongoing,“ Lu said.
Taichung Fire Bureau Chief Sun Fu-you told reporters the blast appeared to have been caused by gas, but it was unclear if it was related to the construction work.
Lu said the explosion had affected a wide area and at least one passerby was among the victims.
The force of the blast scattered large pieces of metal, cladding and debris over the footpath outside the department store and nearby streets.
Another video showed extensive damage near a set of elevators inside the department store.
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