Japan mall blast kills two workers sent to secure cash

Two women were killed in an explosion at an Aeon shopping centre in Kumamoto prefecture on August 2, 2026.2,1 The women were employees of Habita, which operates a variety store inside the mall.1 The explosion occurred after the women were instructed by their employer to re-enter the quake-damaged mall to secure cash from sales proceeds.2,1

The women had been sent back into the building despite ongoing structural risks following a powerful earthquake the previous week.1 Habita executives issued a public apology to the family of one of the victims, a 22-year-old woman.1 The company stated the women were retrieving money from the store's safe when the explosion occurred.1

The blast happened during recovery operations at the mall, which had been closed since the earthquake.2 Local authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion, which followed a series of aftershocks.2