Moment people run in terror from Japanese mall after it explodes in 7.1 magnitude quake 'bomb'

Moment people run in terror from Japanese mall after it explodes in 7.1 magnitude quake 'bomb' The new footage captured by a car dashcam as the vehicle passed the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto, Japan, shows debris being flung into the road following a suspected gas explosion Horror new footage has captured the moment people ran in terror following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Three mall workers have died and a further three remain unaccounted for at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto, in Kashima City, Kyushu prefecture, Japan, after the strong earthquake struck on Tuesday morning. Video taken by a passing car dashcam showed the shopping centre bursting outwards and towards the street, leaving a massive hole in the building's frontage. Harrowing clips taken by people inside the building at the time captured the panic as they fled for safety during the early morning incident ahead of an emergency search and rescue operation. Another video, taken from inside the Aeon mall, showed panicked locals running for safety after the earthquake reportedly triggered an explosive gas leak. People could be heard audibly terrified as they ran for safety, with debris seen scattered inside as a cameraman's shaky hands panned around the scene. According to local reports, rescuers entering the mall to carry out an urgent operation noted smelling gas inside the building. And a TV correspondent reporting from the site said an emergency vehicle had repeatedly urged people not to go near the site due to a potential leak. Minoru Kihara, Japan's top government spokesperson, said however that the cause of the incident has not yet been confirmed, with investigations still ongoing. Mr Kihara said the mall was using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), transported in large canisters instead of a pipeline. Piped and LPG gas systems are designed to shut down during strong earthquakes or suspected leaks. Aeon's leadership said a gas explosion could not have been foreseen. After it opened more than 20 years ago, spokespeople for the mall said it sustained damage in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, and was then renovated in line with Japanese updated seismic standards. Around 3,000 people were evacuated to one of the mall's parking lots before the suspected gas explosion took place in a part of the mall where some people were working. Three people who remain missing following the earthquake and explosion are also believed to have been employees. Soldiers and emergency workers are still combing through the badly damaged mall and badly damaged homes in southwestern Japan following the earthquake. It has killed 18 people so far, among them a foreigner. At least 62 people have been injured, six of them seriously, the prefectural government of Kyushu said. The tally has been steadily growing, and there are fears that it will only continue to rise given the earthquake hit at a time the mall was bustling with thousands of people. Nearly 34,900 homes were still without electricity and some 15,000 homes without running water, Kumamoto officials said. More than 8,800 people left their homes to stay in over 400 shelters, where power sources were being added to provide air conditioning. Aerial police footage showed some homes in residential areas were completely flattened, including a few that crumbled into a nearby river. Japan’s Self Defense Forces joined rescue workers in the search and rescue operations. Hundreds of professionals were helping with the effort, including firefighters from Taiwan.