UPDATE - At least 4 dead, 20 injured in Taiwan gas explosion

​​​​​​​REVISES DEATH TOLL, ADDS DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Islamuddin Sajid and Saadet Gokce

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL (AA) - At least four people were killed and several injured in a suspected gas explosion in Taiwan on Thursday, authorities said.

The explosion occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in the Xitun district in central Taiwan during renovations on the 11th and 12th floors, TVBS World Taiwan news channel reported.

The National Fire Agency, however, said it was "still unclear whether that work was the cause of the incident."

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen confirmed the deaths and said six people suffered cardiac arrests while eight were injured.

She said two were trapped in an elevator.

The local fire department dispatched personnel to the scene, while police secured the area to ensure public safety.

The store evacuated customers while authorities imposed traffic controls on nearby roads to facilitate rescue operations.

Authorities are investigating the accident.