13 persons indicted for 5 deaths, 35 injured in February department store gas explosion

13 persons indicted for 5 deaths, 35 injured in February department store gas explosion

2025-12-30

Back in February, a gas explosion at a Shin King Mitsukoshi Department Store branch in Taichung left 5 dead and 15 injured during renovation works at the food court. On Tuesday, prosecutors determined gross negligence by management and contractors to be the cause, and have therefore filed an indictment against Shin King Mitsukoshi Department Store Company and 13 persons for criminal offenses and violations against the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

A gas explosion on Feb. 13, at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi’s Zhonggang branch in Taichung left five dead and 35 injured. On Tuesday, prosecutors concluded investigation and are indicting 13 persons including the vice general manager of the company, the store manager of the branch and contractors for renovation works.

Lee Yu-pei
Taichung District Prosecutors Office
We have determined the defendants as Shin King Mitsukoshi Department Store Company and a total of 13 persons, which include relevant managers and contractors, for, as stated in the Criminal Code, having negligently caused the death of others and negligently caused injury to others by setting fire; and for violations against the Occupational Safety and Health Act; and as such we’re filing an indictment.

According to prosecutors, the department store began renovation works after closing on Feb. 9, and began gutting the 12th floor the following day. The store manager did not make sure to turn off the gas and obtain the gas piping layout, while the vice general manager and a staff member, who oversaw the project, failed to implement substitute safety measures, despite knowing that the gas leak detector had been removed prior. It was determined that their negligence led to the incident.

Lee Yu-pei
Taichung District Prosecutors Office
The defendants failed to obtain a renovation permit, nor did they submit a fire safety plan for an ongoing construction project before proceeding with the works. Additionally, after the gas leak detector was removed, they failed to implement any substitute safety measures. The gas safety shut-off valve was not turned off before the works began either.

The department store did not submit a fire safety plan before proceeding with renovations, nor did their contractors ask to refer to the gas piping layout. The gas was also only partially turned off, while the main safety valve remained on, which led to leakage.

Lee Yu-pei
Taichung District Prosecutors Office
It is evident that Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store Company did not implement legally enforced safety management practices in a high-risk construction project. Their negligence across management levels led to great, irrevocable harm.

Prosecutors also stated that the case could be considered the worst of public safety incidents ever in the country’s history. Additionally, despite having settled with some victims and their families, the defendants’ negligence caused serious harm and therefore they should be prosecuted accordingly.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#shinkongmitsukoshi #gasleak #taichung #news #law

新光三越氣爆釀5死35傷中檢起訴管理.承攬人員共13人

2025-12-30

台中新光三越，今年二月份發生嚴重的氣爆意外，釀成5死35傷的重大慘劇，歷經10個多月的偵辦，台中地檢偵結起訴，認定百貨總店的副理及台中店店長，還有施工承包商共13人，涉犯刑法過失殺人及過失致死等罪嫌，向地院提起公訴。

2月13日，台中新光三越驚天氣爆，釀成5死35傷，檢方週二偵結起訴新光總店副理、中港店長還有承包商共13人。

[[台中地檢署襄閱主任檢察官李毓珮]]
“認定被告新光三越百貨股份有限公司，及其相關管理承攬人員共計13人，分別涉犯刑法過失致人於死，過失傷害準失火及違反職業安全衛生法，提起公訴”

據檢方調查，新光三越為了進行改裝案，在今年2月9日閉館後派請廠商入場施工，隔天在12樓進行拆除作業。許姓店長沒有掌握12樓天然氣總開關和管線狀況，而負責督導的滑姓副理和課員，應該要知道瓦斯漏氣檢知器在施工前已經拆除，卻未設置任何替代防護措施，最後釀成氣爆大禍。

[[台中地檢署襄閱主任檢察官李毓珮]]
“未依法申請室內裝修許可，亦未提報施工中消防防護計畫即進場施工，並於拆除瓦斯漏氣檢知器後，未採取任何替代防護措施，施工前亦未確實關閉瓦斯總開關”

新光三越沒有提報施工消防防護計畫，施工單位也沒調閱管線圖，僅關閉部分瓦斯開關，卻遺漏總開關，導致瓦斯持續外洩。

[[台中地檢署襄閱主任檢察官李毓珮]]
“本案顯示新光三越總公司，於高風險工程中，未落實法定安全管理責任，管理疏失層層堆疊，造成無可回復之重大危害”

檢方認為，新光三越台中店氣爆，釀成我國史上最嚴重之公安事故，雖然業者和部分被害人家屬及傷者達成和解，但被告等人過失情節重大，建請法院量處適當之刑。

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