Two female employees died in an explosion at an Aeon shopping mall following last week's powerful earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, reportedly after being asked by their manager to go back inside to secure sales proceeds in a safe, the company confirmed on Sunday.
According to the company, the two employees had left the building after strong tremors, but were instructed by their manager to re-enter and safely deposit the day's earnings into the safe. Shortly afterward, an explosion occurred, killing both women.
The incident unfolded in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shook southwestern Japan, causing severe casualties and property damage. The quake left at least one person dead and many others injured, and triggered multiple fires and structural collapses.
The company said it is working with authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and expressed deep condolences to the victims' families. The case has also raised questions about safety protocols for handling assets at commercial facilities during emergencies.
