Two Employees Killed After Boss Ordered Re-entry to Japan Mall for Cash

Two employees of the general goods store Habita died in an explosion at the Aeon Mall in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture after their boss ordered them to re-enter the building to secure cash. The incident followed a powerful earthquake on July 28 that measured between magnitude 6.8 and 7.1. In total, 38 people died during the earthquake and its aftermath, including seven people at the Aeon Mall.

Authorities believe a gas leak caused by the earthquake led to the explosion that partially collapsed the upper level of the mall. While most shoppers and staff had evacuated, some remained inside. One of the deceased employees was identified as 22 year old Kurumi Otake. According to her family, she had already evacuated and encountered a relative outside before returning to the store to move money from the cash register into a safe on her company's orders.

Habita sales director Goji Yuse apologized for the loss of life, stating that the instructions given at the time were inappropriate and that the action was not worth a human life. The company is currently considering how to proceed with the matter.