Japan Earthquake: Two Store Employees Die in Mall Explosion After Returning for Earnings

Two employees of the variety store 'habita' perished in an explosion at the AEON Mall in Kumamoto, Japan, following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on July 28. The employees, identified as 22-year-old Kurumi Otake and a colleague, had initially evacuated the shopping center after the earthquake. However, they reportedly returned to the store after being asked by management to secure the day's earnings in a safe. Approximately five minutes after their return, an explosion occurred within the mall, leading to their deaths.

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My daughter cannot come back.

'habita' President Keima Ueno admitted on August 2 that he had instructed employees to return to the store to place earnings in the safe. He stated this during a press conference in Kumamoto City, where he publicly apologized to the families of the victims. Ueno had attended the wake ceremony for Otake and offered his condolences directly to her family. The company's senior management also provided written details of the incident to the family.

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This is extremely painful, and I am deeply sorry to the families of the two deceased.

Otake's mother, upon receiving the apology, expressed her grief, stating, "My daughter cannot come back." Reports indicate that the store manager conveyed the company's request to the two employees. The 'habita' store is located on the second floor of the AEON Mall, while the safe was on the first floor. The incident has cast a somber shadow over the recovery efforts in Kumamoto, highlighting the tragic consequences that can arise even after initial safety measures are taken.

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Company people asked me to go back.