Aeon Mall Kumamoto was destroyed Tuesday by a massive explosion that followed a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, with 20 to 30 employees unaccounted for, according to reports. Rescue operations were suspended as aftershocks continued to rattle the region.
The powerful earthquake struck near Kumamoto, Japan, on Tuesday. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.8, while Japan's Meteorological Agency recorded it as magnitude 7.1. The temblor, occurring at a depth of approximately 6 miles, prompted a brief tsunami advisory for parts of Kyushu that was later lifted. The quake also reportedly sparked at least eight fires and led to the temporary closure of Kumamoto Airport.
Shortly after the earthquake, a significant explosion ripped through the Aeon Mall, tearing off exterior walls and exposing the building's steel frame. Witnesses reported smelling gas before the blast.
The mall had recently celebrated its grand reopening on June 13, following years of reconstruction after a devastating magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the region in April 2016. The redevelopment project included seismic reinforcements and safety upgrades, intended to symbolize Kumamoto's recovery from the earlier disaster.
Approximately 200 shoppers were safely evacuated from the mall after the earthquake. An Aeon spokesperson confirmed that employees assisted in evacuating visitors immediately after the quake, and prefectural officials guided about 200 people outside before the explosion. However, between 20 and 30 mall employees remained unaccounted for following the blast. Rescuers could not immediately enter the damaged structure due to the risk of aftershocks.
Before the 2016 earthquake, the Aeon Mall was a significant commercial hub, attracting over 8 million visitors annually. It housed about 200 stores, a cinema, and parking for approximately 5,000 vehicles. The mall also played a role in supporting survivors after the 2016 disaster, with a supermarket inside known for selling 10-yen onigiri to those affected.
In 2024, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. opened a factory nearby, further increasing the mall's activity. Aeon had described the mall's reopening in June as a "re-start" initiative, marking both the center's 21st anniversary and the region's ongoing recovery.