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Kyodo

Two women who died in an explosion at an Aeon shopping centre following a powerful earthquake in Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture last week were instructed by their employer to return inside to put sales proceeds in a safe, according to the company.
Two executives of Habita, which operates the variety store where the women died, said on Sunday they apologised to the family of one of the victims, 22-year-old Kurumi Otake, at her wake and handed over a written account of events.
Otake evacuated from the Aeon shopping centre in Kashima following the magnitude 7.1 temblor on Tuesday but was later seen re-entering the building.
“[My daughter] isn’t coming back,” Otake’s mother said in tears.

A male relative told reporters that Otake “had a strong sense of responsibility,” adding, “We had just been joking around laughing” at a family gathering about three months earlier.
Many friends attended the wake. Habita’s sales manager told reporters: “Looking back now, it was not worth a life.”
Looking back now, it was not worth a life
A Habita sales manager
Habita was founded in 1976 and operates more than 10 stores in Kyushu, according to the company’s website.
Seven people died in the explosion at around 5.50pm on Tuesday. Aeon said at a press conference the following day it was unclear why they were inside the building.
The Kumamoto prefectural government said that as of Monday, 36 people had been confirmed dead as a direct result of the earthquake, with two other deaths still under investigation.
More than 4,600 buildings were damaged, with over 8,000 people staying in 206 evacuation shelters, the prefecture said.


Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived at the prefecture in southwestern Japan on Monday to assess local challenges and requests, including improving living conditions for evacuees and quickly restoring infrastructure.
Government officials said arrangements were being made for Takaichi to inspect from a helicopter the damage from the quake and to check the situation at evacuation shelters.
But her one-day trip to the area, which comes amid falling support rates for her cabinet in recent opinion polls, has generated a backlash on social media, with some questioning its necessity.
The prime minister was also expected to exchange views with local authorities on help from the central government, the officials said, with concern growing about heatstroke and disaster-related deaths at evacuation sites amid scorching heat.
Takaichi’s government is eager to promote secondary evacuations to lodging facilities and strengthen support for people sleeping in cars or remaining in their homes following the quake, according to the officials.

Since its launch last October, Takaichi’s cabinet has maintained relatively high popularity but has recently been facing falling support amid criticism about what is seen as the ruling bloc’s high-handed approach to parliamentary affairs at this year’s main Diet session that ended late last month.
After Takaichi’s plan to visit Kumamoto was announced Sunday, comments were made on social media such as “This visit is meaningless” and “Going to the disaster area amid the ongoing confusion will only increase security costs”.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has also been criticised over a fundraising event held on Tuesday night by members from the prefectural assembly of Fukuoka, located near Kumamoto in Kyushu.
The leader of the party’s assembly group defended the meeting going ahead, saying participants had already been on their way to attend it when the quake struck.


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The Aeon Mall in Kashima, Kumamoto orefecture, is seen on Saturday following Tuesday’s earthquake. Photo: Kyodo

Heavy machinery removes debris at Aeon Mall Kumamoto on Friday. Photo: Kyodo/AP

A family stays in the parking area outside their home in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto prefecture, on Friday. Photo: Kyodo

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An aerial view shows the destruction at Aeon Mall Kumamoto on Thursday. Photo: Asia Air Survey & Aero Toyota/Reuters

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A rescue worker walks in front of Aeon mall in Kashima, Kumamoto, which was damaged by an explosion following an earthquake, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Rescue workers conduct a search operation at the damaged Aeon shopping centre on Thursday after a 7.1 earthquake struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture. Photo: Reuters

The collapsed worship hall of Yatsushiro shrine seen on Wednesday after a 7.1 earthquake hit Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture. Photo: Reuters

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A shopping centre damaged by the quake. Photo: EPA/Jiji Press

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Emergency workers carry out search and rescue efforts. Photo: Kyodo News via Reuters

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Executives of Habita, which operates the variety store, say they have apologised to the family of one of the victims at her wake


Executives of Habita, which operates the variety store, say they have apologised to the family of one of the victims at her wake.


Earthquakes

Natural disasters

Environment

Sanae Takaichi

2 Japan quake victims ordered back into Aeon Mall store to secure cash

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Executives of Habita, which operates the variety store, say they have apologised to the family of one of the victims at her wake

Executives of Habita, which operates the variety store, say they have apologised to the family of one of the victims at her wake