Immediately after a powerful 7,1-magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, on 28/7, the Aeon shopping center collapsed due to an explosion. The incident killed 7 people, including two female employees who had been ordered by their superiors to go back inside to retrieve cash.

These two employees had initially evacuated to the parking lot outside the building after guiding customers to safety. However, the company requested them to return inside the shopping center, Koji Yuse, a business manager at Habita, the company operating the store chain, admitted on 3/8.

Rescue workers at the scene of the collapsed Aeon shopping center in Kumamoto, Japan, on 29/7. Photo: AP

Yuse stated he had instructed the store manager to ask the two female employees to return to the building. Their task was to transfer the day's sales revenue from the second floor to a safe on the first floor. He also suggested they seek permission from the shopping center's operator before re-entering the building.

Around 17h35 on 28/7, these two employees entered the building, which had already been damaged by the earthquake. An Aeon employee near the entrance told them, "Please be careful".

However, shortly after they went inside, an explosion of unknown cause suddenly occurred, causing the building to collapse and killing them. During a subsequent press conference, an Aeon representative stated that it was unclear why these individuals were inside the building after the earthquake.

"If I hadn't mentioned the money, this wouldn't have happened. I deeply regret not foreseeing the consequences," Yuse said.

Two Habita executives stated they had sent apologies to the family of Kurumi Otake, 22, one of the two employees who died. They also attended her wake and personally handed a report of the incident to her relatives.

Otake's mother, tearfully at the funeral, said that her daughter would never be able to return. According to informed sources, Otake's family told Habita executives they would never forgive them.

The funeral of employee Kurumi Otake, who died in the collapse of the Aeon shopping center in Kumamoto, Japan. Photo: Japan Times

According to the company's website, Habita was established in 1976 and currently operates more than 10 stores in the Kyushu region.

The Kumamoto provincial government reported that as of 3/8, 36 people had died as a direct result of the earthquake, with two other deaths currently under investigation. More than 4.600 homes were damaged, and over 8.000 people are sheltering in 206 evacuation centers.

Ngoc Anh (According to Japan Times, AFP, AP)