After the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan on July 28, an explosion occurred at the AEON mall in Kashima Town. Two employees of a general store inside the mall, who had originally evacuated outside, unfortunately lost their lives after returning due to company instructions to deposit that day's sales revenue into the safe.
According to Japanese media reports, these two employees worked at the beauty and general goods shop Habita inside AEON Mall Kumamoto.
One of the employees, 22-year-old Kurumi Ootake, lived in Kumamoto City. Ootake's mother told the media that after the earthquake, although her daughter had escaped outside, she was later seen returning into the building.
This mother said heartbreakingly: "My daughter will never come back."
Habita’s director, Goji Tounose, confirmed in an interview in Kumamoto City on the 2nd that after employees were evacuated, the store manager indeed ordered the two to go back and move the cash from the register to the safe.
Goji Tounose said: "We are deeply sorry for the loss of two precious lives this time."
The report pointed out that for three other stores in the prefecture that were also evacuating at the time, Habita had issued the same instruction to have employees deposit sales proceeds into the safe.
At a press conference on July 29, AEON President Akio Yoshida stated: "According to the disaster prevention manual, after evacuation, re-entry into the building is not allowed."
Regarding this incident, former Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office special investigation unit chief prosecutor Tsunehiko Maeda pointed out that, in civil terms, Habita may bear tort liability, and may also be liable for damages for violating the duty of care for safety, as companies are legally obliged to prioritize employee safety.