Explosion at Taiwan department store kills 1 and leaves 10 others hospitalized

Fire authorities in Taiwan say an explosion at a department store killed one person and left 10 others hospitalized

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- An explosion at a department store in Taiwan on Thursday killed one person and left 10 others hospitalized, fire authorities said.

The blast occurred at the food court on the 12th floor of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Taichung city. Among the 10 people who were hospitalized, four had no vital signs, authorities said.

Dozens of firefighters were deployed to the scene, where parts of the building's exterior were damaged and scattered fragments were strewn on the streets.

Taichung Deputy Mayor Cheng Chao-hsin said he had been told the blast may have been caused by a suspected gas explosion, but that still needed to be confirmed.