Aeon admits staff re-entered quake-hit mall before fatal blast despite ban

Japanese retailer Aeon has acknowledged that employees were permitted to re-enter a shopping mall in Kumamoto Prefecture following an earthquake, despite a company rule prohibiting such access for evacuees. Tragically, seven workers lost their lives in a subsequent blast at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto facility in late July.

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The retailer said on-site personnel at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima allowed employees to go back in, after they asked to retrieve valuables such as car keys and mobile phones and to close cash registers following the powerful earthquake.

On-site personnel at the mall in Kashima allowed employees back into the building after they requested to retrieve personal belongings, such as car keys and mobile phones, and to close cash registers. The powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake, which struck southwestern Japan on July 28, had left some employees who drove to work unable to return home.

Aeon stated that its existing rules and drills did not account for post-evacuation scenarios involving personal items or employees stranded due to transportation issues. The absence of clear procedures left such decisions to the discretion of on-site personnel.

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Aeon said its rules and drills had not covered post-evacuation cases involving personal belongings or employees unable to leave after commuting by car, adding that the absence of procedures left such decisions to on-site personnel.

In response to the incident, the retail giant announced it will revise its internal rules to permit employees to keep valuables with them while they are working. Aeon president Akio Yoshida had previously stated at a press conference on July 29 that internal regulations barred evacuees from re-entering buildings.

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internal rules barred evacuees from re-entering buildings.