Taipei: A 2-year-old girl from Macau, who suffered severe head injuries in a gas explosion at a Taichung mall, has been discharged from China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) and is set to return to Macau via a medical charter flight.
According to Focus Taiwan, the girl, initially in a critical condition and deep coma, showed stabilized vital signs after extensive treatment. Although her intracranial pressure remains at a dangerous level, it has been improving, as per a press statement from CMUH.
Following coordination with her family, she was discharged on Wednesday afternoon to fly back to Macau. Her 85-year-old great-grandmother and 24-year-old uncle, both injured in the same explosion and treated at CMUH, were also discharged and are expected to accompany her on the flight.
The incident occurred while the girl and six family members were visiting Taichung. A gas explosion at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store resulted in debris falling as they passed by, instantly killing her grandfather and leading to her grandmother's death shortly after at a hospital.
A motorist rushed the girl to a nearby hospital where she received emergency care before being transferred for an emergency craniotomy at China Medical University Children's Hospital. This procedure was necessary due to a brain hemorrhage and swelling from her injuries.
As of February 15, the explosion led to four fatalities and 36 injuries, with five individuals in intensive care and six in general wards, as reported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The ministry has not released further updates on the injured, citing stabilized emergency admissions and privacy concerns over hospital transfers as reasons for confidentiality.