TAICHING (TVBS News) — Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (新光三越百貨) released a statement on Friday (Feb. 14) that its Zhonggang (中港) department store in Taichung will temporarily halt operations to conduct an environmental safety inspection and assured the public that employee rights and salaries will remain unaffected.
The gas explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store a day earlier resulted in 4 deaths and at least 30 injuries, sending shockwaves across Taiwan.
According to the statement, the company vowed to take full responsibility and cooperate with government authorities' investigations.
Shin Kong Group president Richard Wu (吳昕陽) and Executive Vice President Wu Xin-chang (吳昕昌) of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (新光三越百貨) visited the site and hospitals soon after the accident at noon, offering NT$1 million in condolence money to each of the victims' families.
Meanwhile, the company declared the formation of a task force to address the needs of employees, victims' families, and vendors, expressing their apology to society and appreciation for the assistance from the Taichung City Government (台中市政府), police, and fire departments.