Evacuated After Earthquake, but Company Ordered "Put Sales Proceeds in the Safe"... Aeon Mall Female Employee Dies in Tragedy in Japan

Evacuated After the Earthquake, Returned to Store to Secure Sales Proceeds
Massive Gas Explosion Occurred Five Minutes After Re-entering the Building

It has been reported that a woman in her 20s, who was an employee at the Kumamoto Aeon Mall and died in the explosion during the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan, first evacuated after the earthquake but returned to the store following company instructions, where she lost her life.

According to NHK Japan and other sources on the 1st, the bereaved family of Kurumi Ootake (22), an Aeon Mall variety store employee who died in the explosion, stated, "After the earthquake, Kurumi evacuated outside the building, but upon receiving company instructions to deposit the sales proceeds in the safe, she went back in and ended up losing her life. We are deeply saddened." She was found dead with a coworker early in the morning on the 29th of last month. According to her family, Ootake graduated from high school and began working at the variety store four years ago. She started working at a store inside Kumamoto Aeon Mall last month.

The appearance of Kumamoto Aeon Mall, which was destroyed by an explosion on the 28th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

After the earthquake occurred on the 28th of last month, Ootake evacuated outside the store. At that time, she coincidentally met her aunt and cousin, who were at the mall for shopping, but told them, "The company told me to put the sales money in the safe. I have to go back to the store," and reentered the building with a colleague. About five minutes later, a large explosion occurred. The explosion is believed to have been caused by ruptured gas pipes connected to the food court and other areas, which were damaged by the earthquake, resulting in a gas leak.

After confirming through mobile phone location data that Ootake was near the store, the family rushed to the scene and waited for her safe return. However, Ootake was found dead with a coworker near the store where she had been working, early the next morning. It is reported that her identity was confirmed through DNA testing due to severe damage to the remains.

The bereaved family said, "Kurumi was a bright and diligent child who played volleyball in middle and high school. We are devastated that she lost her life after evacuating but returning on company instructions. We hope the circumstances of what happened at that time will be fully revealed."

Ootake was the eldest of three siblings and had taken on the role of head of the family after losing her father three years ago. Her relative said, "She was bright, diligent, and always gave her best at everything. We never imagined such a thing could happen since she had escaped once. Since she was gentle and very responsible, she must have felt she had to go back. We are heartbroken and angry," the relative added.

In the aftermath of the major Kumamoto earthquake on the 28th of last month, a massive explosion at "Aeon Mall Kumamoto," a large shopping mall, resulted in seven deaths and five injuries. Rescue and search operations at the mall continued for four days and concluded at 12:00 noon on the 1st. Police and firefighters stated that since there were no more people found inside the facility, and no additional reports of missing or unaccounted-for individuals, rescue activities would be completed, and focus would shift to providing support at evacuation centers and recovery efforts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.