In a still‑shocked Kumamoto prefecture, a bolt‑chain blast erupted at Aeon Mall just hours after a 6.8‑magnitude earthquake, claiming the lives of two workers who had been directed to re‑enter the building to secure cash.
The deceased, among the 38 people killed in the quake, were employed by the general goods retailer Habita. One of the workers, 22‑year‑old Kurumi Otake, had been instructed to move money from the register into a safe. The ensuing explosion tore through the damaged mall, pulling her fatality into the emergency.
Habita’s sales director, Goji Yuse, issued a public apology, describing the company’s instructions as “inappropriate” and expressing a “deep regret.” He noted that the company was reviewing its safety procedures in the wake of the tragedy.
Otake’s relatives described her as a dedicated and “justice‑seeking” individual who had supported her mother after her father’s death. “If she had not returned to the store, she would still be alive,” her relative said, highlighting the painful loss of a young life.
While most tenants evacuated immediately following the quake, a handful of employees remained inside when the mall was struck by the blast. The incident has spurred calls for stricter post‑quake safety guidelines for businesses in disaster zones.
Habita, founded in 1976 and operating more than ten stores across Japan, has pledged to reassess its emergency protocols to prevent a further loss of life in the future.
