Horror engulfed Japan as a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck, prompting people to flee in terror. At Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima City, Kyushu prefecture, the quake claimed the lives of three mall workers with three others still missing. Disturbing footage captured the chaos as the shopping center ruptured outward, creating a massive hole in its front.
Inside the mall, harrowing videos depicted frantic scenes as individuals sought safety amidst the emergency, following reports of an explosive gas leak triggered by the earthquake. Rescuers entering the mall noted the presence of gas, while an emergency vehicle warned against approaching the site due to the potential danger.
Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that investigations into the incident were ongoing, emphasizing that the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in canisters rather than pipelines made it challenging to determine the cause. Although the mall had undergone renovations to meet seismic standards after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the unforeseen gas explosion unfolded, resulting in casualties, including missing employees.
The earthquake, which has claimed 18 lives including a foreigner and left 62 injured, struck at a bustling time in the mall, amplifying concerns about rising casualties. Thousands of homes were left without electricity or water, prompting evacuations to shelters where efforts to restore essential services were underway. Rescue operations involving Japan’s Self Defense Forces and international assistance were in full swing, scouring the devastated mall and surrounding areas for survivors.