In brief
A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto on July 28, killing 38 people, including seven shopkeepers at Aeon Mall. Two employees from Habita were instructed to re‑enter the damaged mall to move money to a safe, where a secondary explosion killed them. The company has issued a heartfelt apology, citing inappropriate instructions. One victim, 22‑year‑old Kurumi Otake, was known for her sense of justice and has become a symbol of tragic loss. Authorities and Habita are now evaluating their safety protocols.
A powerful 6.8‑meter earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture on 28 July, killing 38 people, including several shop keepers inside Aeon Mall. Within an hour after the quake, a secondary blast tore through the damaged mall, killing two general‑goods store workers who had been asked by their employer, Habita, to re‑enter the building to transfer cash from the register to a safe.
Habita’s sales director, Goji Yuse, has apologized for the loss of two “precious lives”, stating that the instructions given were inappropriate and “not worth a life.” One of the deceased, 22‑year‑old Kurumi Otake, was named, while the other victim’s identity has not yet been disclosed. Otake’s family said she was told to go back inside the mall after she had met a relative outside; she refused to ignore the company order and was killed in the explosion.
An explosion destroyed part of the mall, causing the deaths of 19 shopkeepers, and the remaining 21 survivors were forced to evacuate the building. In a wake held on Sunday, Habita’s representatives expressed regret over the circumstances that led to the tragedy and announced that the company is reviewing its safety procedures.
Otake’s relative described her as a “strong sense of justice” who had taken care of her mother after her father died. “If she hadn’t gone back inside the store, she would still be with her family today,” she told local media.
Habita, which was founded in 1976, operates more than ten stores across several prefectures. The company has pledged to enhance emergency response protocols in the aftermath of the earthquake and the resulting explosion. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast, which may relate to building damage and accumulations of flammable debris.
