Thick smoke billowed from a building after a suspected gas leak explosion that killed one person in Taiwan this morning.

Footage shows fumes spewing from the damaged portion of the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store in Taichung on February 13.

Shocked motorists watched from below before firefighter truck sirens blared seconds after the blast.

One resident died on the spot, while 11 others were rushed to the hospital. Rescuers said four of them were in critical condition.

Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow Yen said an investigation into the exact cause of the explosion was ongoing.

Mayor Lu said: 'We felt the shock at my office nearby. The fire bureau would focus on a rescue operation first, but an investigation is underway, and officers are checking whether there are other sources of danger.'