Due to a strong earthquake, a major Japanese shopping mall, AEON MALL Kumamoto, experienced an explosion and collapse on July 28, resulting in 7 deaths.
According to a report by Japan's Kyodo News on August 3, two female employees of the household goods store HABITA died. On August 2, two senior executives of the company attended the memorial service for the deceased employee Kudo Kikuko and met with the survivors.
They stated that the two victims were evacuated outdoors after the earthquake, but later the company instructed them to return to the mall and transfer their business income into a safe.
Odate Kyuru is 22 years old. After the earthquake on July 28th, someone saw her briefly outside, but she returned to the mall.
Big Bamboo's mother cried after receiving an apology from the company and said: "(My daughter) will not be coming back."
Participation in the vigil is not worth risking one's life for.
According to the HABITA official website, the company was established in 1976 and operates several stores in regions such as Kumamoto and other areas of Kyushu.
The explosion occurred around 5:50 p.m. on July 28th. According to a report by Kyodo News, citing a senior government official, the explosion at the mall was possibly caused by a gas leak.
