Japanese mall had just reopened before earthquake and explosion

Japan's Aeon mall had just reopened when earthquake and explosion hit Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 2:13pm In short: An explosion ripped through a popular mall in Japan, about an hour after it had been evacuated due to an earthquake. The mall had highlighted its seismically reinforced ceilings and safety improvements following a deadly 2016 earthquake. What's next? The exact number of people stuck in the building is unknown, as emergency services had not yet found a safe route to enter the building. Rescue efforts are ongoing. The Japanese mall where a deadly explosion struck after Tuesday's earthquake had only just reopened last month, after undergoing repairs to damage caused in a devastating earthquake a decade ago. Thirteen people have now been confirmed dead after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said. "Even now, there are people waiting to be rescued, and this is a race against time," she told reporters at her office in Tokyo. About 200 people were evacuated from the Aeon Kumamoto mall following the quake. About an hour later, an explosion ripped through the shopping complex, causing ceilings and walls to collapse and trapping several people inside. At least two women, both in their 20s, died in the mall disaster, Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency told news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP). A gas leak was suspected to be the cause of the blast at the mall, a government source told the Kyodo news agency. "The explosion occurred after the customers and staff had evacuated," a spokesman for the mall's operator Aeon told AFP. A local official told AFP that eight people had been rescued from the mall, five of them with injuries. Initial reports suggested about 20 to 30 people could have been trapped inside the building, but the public broadcaster cited police saying the number was lower than that. They added the exact number was not known, and emergency services had not yet found a safe route to enter the building. According to Kyodo, about 200 people had been evacuated from the mall after the earthquake. Authorities said the second floor of the building had collapsed. A fresh start turned to rubble It was meant to be a fresh start for the Aeon Kumamoto mall as it reopened its doors on June 13. It had undergone extensive repairs after it was damaged in the magnitude-7.3 earthquake that hit Kumamoto in 2016 and claimed the lives of 270 people. According to Reuters, the mall was so badly damaged that it had to close for months and be rebuilt over even longer periods. During a 2017 redevelopment, the mall highlighted its seismically reinforced ceilings and overall improvements to safety and resilience. It housed some 200 stores and businesses and a cinema, and it had room for 5,000 cars in its parking lot. On Tuesday, much of the sprawling site was reduced to a skeleton and rubble. In Japan's smaller cities, Aeon's malls are often vibrant sites for shopping and entertainment. "As we mark both the 21st year since opening and the 10th anniversary of the region's recovery [from the 2016 earthquake], we are undertaking a major renewal of the shopping centre," Aeon Kumamoto had said in a press release to commemorate the event in mid-June. "Through this 're-start' initiative, we will embark on a new stage of growth and strive to become a shopping centre that brings enjoyment to customers throughout the region." Loading...ABC/Reuters/AFP [Image text:] EON MALL tan