After the Quake Came the Blast: Inside Japan’s Shopping Mall Disaster
About 200 people were evacuated before the blast, while 20 to 30 employees were still unaccounted for, broadcasters and authorities said.
- On Tuesday, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto, and about an hour later, a powerful explosion blew apart the Aeon Mall Kumamoto, reducing the sprawling structure to rubble.
- The mall, which reopened in June after a devastating 2016 earthquake, had undergone extensive safety renovations including seismically reinforced ceilings during its 2017 redevelopment to commemorate recovery.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed 13 deaths on Wednesday and called the rescue effort a "race against time," as around 170 soldiers deployed to assist operations at the site.
- Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara confirmed officials are investigating a possible gas leak, while Aeon expressed "deepest condolences to those who lost their lives" and apologized to bereaved families.
- More than 100 aftershocks have occurred since Tuesday, complicating rescue efforts as unstable wreckage prevents immediate entry and authorities warn of possible further gas leaks.
38 Articles
38 Articles
Japan Earthquake: Dramatic Footage Shows Devastated Shopping Mall
Japan's National Police Agency has released footage showing the extensive damage inside an Aeon shopping mall in Kumamoto after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the southern island of Kyushu. The video captures shattered glass, debris scattered across the floor, and severe structural damage, including the collapse of the building's second floor. Authorities believe a gas leak-triggered explosion caused the collapse, trapping several people insi…
Photos Show the Aftermath of a Damaging Earthquake in Southwestern Japan
KUMAMOTO, Japan (AP) — A powerful earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu on Tuesday. A shopping mall, a factory and multiple homes were heavily damaged, and Self Defense Forces personnel joined rescue workers to look for survivors.
Japan Earthquake Triggers Deadly Mall Explosion, Rescue Efforts Continue
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, triggering widespread damage and a deadly explosion at AEON Mall Kumamoto. Rescue crews continued searching for survivors as authorities investigated a possible gas leak and warned of strong aftershocks.
A shopping mall in the city of Kashima on the island of Kyūshū was severely damaged in an explosion following the earthquake.
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