Aeon considering compensation over fatal blast after Kumamoto quake

Aeon, a major Japanese retailer, has announced plans to offer early compensation to the families of tenant shop workers who lost their lives in an explosion at its Kumamoto Mall shortly after a devastating earthquake on July 28. The company stated that it intends to respond promptly to compensation claims, without waiting for legal responsibility to be determined. The exact details of the compensation have yet to be disclosed.

On Tuesday, Aeon revealed that its employees facilitated the temporary re-entry of some evacuated workers from the shops at Aeon Mall Kumamoto, in the town of Kashima, as they retrieved personal belongings such as car keys and mobile phones. Keiji Ono, the president of Aeon Mall, the operator of the facility, has held meetings with bereaved relatives to explain the situation and offer apologies.

The earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture at approximately 4:27 p.m. on July 28, registering up to level 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, the highest possible. By around 5 p.m., Aeon confirmed the evacuation of customers, staff members, and tenant shop workers from Aeon Mall Kumamoto. Later that evening, Aeon employees allowed a limited number of tenant workers to return to the facility.

The explosion occurred around 5:50 p.m., claiming the lives of seven tenant employees. The Ministry of Industry and Trade announced on August 5 that liquefied petroleum gas is highly likely to have caused the explosion. Aeon plans to establish a committee comprising independent experts to investigate the cause of the incident and devise measures to prevent any future occurrences.