A recently reopened shopping mall in southern Japan, rebuilt after the catastrophic 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, was left in ruins Tuesday after a strong new quake was followed by a major explosion. Authorities said dozens of workers were still unaccounted for.
Aeon Mall in Kumamoto Prefecture had marked its grand reopening on June 13, ending years of reconstruction intended to symbolize the area’s recovery from the 2016 disaster.
Only weeks later, the region was hit by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake near Kumamoto, FOX Weather reported, citing the U.S. Geological Survey. Japan’s Meteorological Agency assessed the same event at magnitude 7.1 under its seismic measurement system.
An 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, July 28, 2026. (Kyodo/via Reuters/TPX Images of the Day)
Officials said roughly 200 shoppers were evacuated safely in the immediate aftermath of the quake. About an hour later, an explosion tore through the mall, stripping away exterior walls and leaving parts of the steel frame exposed. NHK reported that around 20 to 30 mall employees remained missing, while police said rescue teams were unable to enter right away because of the continuing threat of aftershocks.
The shopping center had stood as one of Kumamoto’s most prominent signs of recovery after the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck in April 2016 and caused widespread devastation. Aeon said the redevelopment project included seismic upgrades and additional safety measures aimed at strengthening the complex against future disasters.
Witnesses told Reuters they noticed the smell of gas before the blast. An Aeon spokesperson said staff quickly moved to evacuate customers after the earthquake, and prefectural officials confirmed that about 200 people were led out safely before the explosion occurred.
The damaged Aeon Mall shopping centre, where, according to local media, an explosion occurred after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 struck Japan’s southern Kumamoto Prefecture, in Kashima Town, July 28, 2026. (Kyodo/via Reuters)
According to FOX Weather, the earthquake struck just before 4:30 p.m. local time about 9 miles north of Kumamoto at a depth of roughly 6 miles. Japan’s Meteorological Agency briefly issued and later lifted a tsunami advisory for parts of Kyushu. NHK reported at least 50 people were injured, while Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said the quake sparked at least eight fires. Kumamoto Airport also temporarily closed.
Reuters reported the mall welcomed more than 8 million visitors annually after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. opened a factory nearby in 2024.
The complex housed about 200 stores, a movie theater and parking for roughly 5,000 vehicles. It also became known locally after a supermarket inside sold 10-yen onigiri to help survivors following the 2016 earthquake.
Rescue workers conduct a search and rescue operation at the damaged Aeon Mall in Japan’s southern Kumamoto prefecture, in Kashima Town, July 28, 2026. (Credit: Japan Out via Reuters)
When the mall reopened in June, Aeon described the project as a “‘re-start’ initiative” marking both the shopping center’s 21st anniversary and the region’s recovery from the 2016 earthquake.
As night fell Tuesday, rescue operations remained on hold because of continuing aftershocks as families awaited word on the employees still believed to be inside.
