A general goods retailer, Habita, has issued a formal apology after two of its employees were killed in an explosion at a Kumamoto prefecture shopping mall. The incident occurred on July 28, shortly after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region.
The two workers had returned to the Aeon Mall approximately one hour after the initial tremor, following instructions from their employer to move cash from registers into a safe. While most shoppers and staff had successfully evacuated the building, the employees were inside when the blast occurred. In total, the earthquake resulted in 38 deaths, seven of which were linked to the mall.
One of the deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Kurumi Otake. Her family reported that she had initially escaped the building and encountered a relative outside, but felt compelled to return due to the company's directive. Company representatives confirmed the order during a visit to Otake’s wake.
Habita sales director Goji Yuse expressed remorse for the decision, stating that the instructions were inappropriate and that the company deeply regrets the loss of life. "Looking back now, it was not worth a life," Yuse told reporters. The company, which operates over ten stores, is currently reviewing its internal procedures following the tragedy.
Source: BBC News
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