Published on: 2026-07-28
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
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Tokyo, July 28 /Xinhua/ — Between 20 and 30 employees are reported missing after an explosion at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping center in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday. The explosion occurred shortly after a powerful earthquake struck the region. This was reported by the public broadcaster NHK.
According to the National Police Agency of Japan, several people, presumably employees of the Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping center, cannot be reached after an explosion occurred in this large shopping complex in the city of Kashima.
According to law enforcement data, between 20 and 30 employees still have not made contact.
Currently, police and firefighters are checking whether the missing employees could be trapped inside the damaged building, and they are searching for those who might still be inside.
Local authorities clarified that after the explosion, which occurred around 6:00 PM local time, the majority of visitors were evacuated outside. However, as NHK reports, it is still unknown whether there are visitors among the missing.
Authorities also stated that, according to received information, in other districts of this prefecture in the southwest of the country, after the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1, which occurred at 16:27 local time, up to 10 people are reported missing. –0–
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