A shopping mall in southern Japan that had just reopened after years of reconstruction following a devastating 2016 earthquake was destroyed Tuesday after a powerful earthquake struck the region and was followed by a massive explosion, leaving dozens of workers unaccounted for.The Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture celebrated its grand reopening on June 13 after years of rebuilding meant to mark the region's recovery from the 2016 disaster.Just weeks later, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near Kumamoto, according to FOX Weather, citing the U.S.Geological Survey.
Japan's Meteorological Agency measured the same quake at magnitude 7.1 using its own seismic scale.EARTHQUAKE SHAKES PERU'S ANDES REGION, KILLING AT LEAST 5, DISPLACING HUNDREDSAn aerial view shows a collapsed chimney at Nippon Paper Industries' Yatsushiro Mill after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan's southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, July 28, 2026. (yodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.MANDATORY CREDIT.
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TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)About 200 shoppers were safely evacuated after the earthquake, officials said.Roughly an hour later, a powerful explosion ripped through the building, blowing off exterior walls and exposing its steel framework.
NHK reported that about 20 to 30 mall employees remained unaccounted for, while police said rescuers could not immediately enter because of the risk of aftershocks.The mall had become one of the most visible symbols of Kumamoto's recovery after the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that devastated the region in April 2016.Aeon said the redevelopment included seismic reinforcements and other safety improvements designed to make the complex more resilient.Witnesses reported smelling gas before the explosion, according to Reuters.
An Aeon spokesperson said employees immediately helped evacuate visitors after the quake,...