15:17 JST, August 21, 2026

Even though safety had been initially ensured after people were evacuated from the building, the situation took a turn for the worse simply because reentry was permitted. It is necessary to anticipate secondary disasters and identify any shortcomings in crisis management in advance.

Regarding the accident at Aeon Mall Kumamoto — a commercial complex where an explosion occurred not long after the Kumamoto Earthquake, killing seven people — Aeon Co. announced on Aug. 11 that the company had, in fact, permitted employees of specialty stores who had initially evacuated outside to reenter the building.

The company said that multiple Aeon employees at the mall, acting on their own judgment, allowed employees of specialty stores to reenter the building after they made such requests as retrieving car keys, which are necessary to return home, and valuables, as well as closing out cash........

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