Two women were killed and another woman was found unresponsive after an explosion at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima town, hours after a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, further complicating rescue efforts in the disaster-hit region.
According to Kyodo News, government sources suspect a gas leak may have triggered the explosion. Authorities had initially reported that 10 people were unaccounted for at the site.
The mall operator, Aeon Co., said the blast occurred after customers and employees had evacuated the shopping complex. Prefectural police said around 200 people had exited the building before the explosion. However, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that the second floor of the building collapsed, raising concerns that more people could be trapped beneath the debris.
Witnesses said some people had re-entered the mall after the initial earthquake. An Aeon spokesperson stated that a person in charge had visually confirmed the evacuation before the explosion occurred more than 30 minutes later.
The blast caused extensive structural damage, bringing down ceilings and walls and exposing the building’s steel framework while scattering debris across the complex.
A nearby hair salon owner said he heard a loud crash, similar to a heavy vehicle collision, followed by a large plume of white smoke.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said around 3,600 Self-Defense Forces personnel have been deployed across the affected region to support rescue and relief operations alongside emergency response teams.
The earthquake also disrupted rail services. According to NHK, the Kyushu Railway Company has suspended operations on the Kyushu Shinkansen from the first train on Wednesday to conduct safety inspections.
Services between Hakata and Kumamoto stations are expected to resume if inspections confirm safety, while operations between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo stations will remain suspended throughout the day.
Following the 7.1-magnitude earthquake, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi established an Emergency Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters to coordinate rescue and relief efforts.
The Prime Minister said the government would continue rescue operations through the night while ensuring the supply of essential items, including food, drinking water and equipment to help prevent heatstroke. She also spoke with Kumamoto Governor Kimura to assess the situation and assured full support from the national government.
The powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture at around 4:27 p.m. local time, causing building collapses, road damage, fires and casualties, and was followed by multiple aftershocks. Rescue operations remain underway across the affected areas.
