Two Employees Died After Being Ordered Back Into Kumamoto Mall Before Explosion

Two employees of Habita Inc. died in an explosion at an AEON Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture after they were instructed by their employer to reenter the building following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 28. Company officials acknowledged that the workers were sent back inside to secure cash from the store's register and move it into a safe. One of the victims was identified as 22 year old Kurumi Otake.

Habita sales director Yuse Koji described the instructions as inappropriate and a grave mistake, stating that the decision was not worth a life. During a wake for Otake, company representatives apologized to the family and provided a written account of the events. Bereaved family members told the company president that they would never forgive them.

The explosion occurred approximately one hour after the earthquake and killed seven people at the mall. The broader earthquake resulted in 38 fatalities and damaged more than 4,600 buildings. While most shoppers and staff had evacuated, several employees remained inside when the blast occurred at approximately 5:50 p.m. Habita has stated it will cooperate with investigations and review its emergency response procedures. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.