- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday.
- Otake evacuated from the Aeon shopping centre in Kashima following the earthquake but was later seen re-entering the building.
- The two women's employer instructed them to return inside to put sales proceeds in a safe.
- An explosion at the Aeon shopping centre killed the two women.
- Two executives of Habita, which operates the variety store where the women died, apologised to the family of victim Kurumi Otake, 22, at her wake and handed over a written account of events.
- [My daughter] isn’t coming back, Otake’s mother said in tears.
- A male relative said Otake had a strong sense of responsibility, and recalled that they had been joking around laughing at a family gathering about three months earlier.
Two women died in an explosion at an Aeon shopping centre in Kumamoto, Japan, after being ordered back inside by their employer to secure cash following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about safety protocols during emergencies.5
The victims, identified as 22-year-old Kurumi Otake and another woman, were initially evacuated from the building after the earthquake struck on Tuesday. However, they were later instructed to return to secure sales proceeds, leading to the tragic explosion that claimed their lives.34
Executives from Habita, the company operating the store, expressed their condolences, stating, “We apologize to the family of one of the victims, Kurumi Otake, at her wake and handed over a written account of events.”
Otake's mother, devastated by the loss, lamented, “[My daughter] isn’t coming back,” while a male relative described her as having “a strong sense of responsibility.” The family had recently shared joyful moments together, highlighting the tragic nature of her untimely death.
This incident underscores the critical need for businesses to prioritize employee safety during emergencies, as the aftermath of the earthquake continues to unfold in Kumamoto.
“One victim, Kurumi Otake, 22, had evacuated the Kashima Aeon centre after the magnitude 7.1 temblor but was later seen re-entering the building. Two Habita executives apologised to her family at her wake and handed over a written account of events.”
South China Morning Post
