What happened at Kumamoto AEON MALL?

The building collapsed due to a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. 20–30 employees remain trapped inside.

How strong was the earthquake?

Magnitude 7.1, maximum seismic intensity 7. Widespread damage across Kyushu.

Have any people been rescued?

Yes, four people were rescued and taken to hospital. All were conscious.

Kumamoto AEON MALL Collapses! Police Reveal '30 Employees Still Trapped Inside': Status Unknown

Published Jul 28, 2026 10:37 PM ・ Updated Jul 28, 2026 11:19 PM ・ 4 min read ・ Source: PR Times

On April 28, 2025, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, causing the AEON MALL building to collapse. The exterior walls were almost entirely destroyed, exposing steel frames. Four people have been rescued, but 20–30 employees remain trapped inside with their conditions unknown.

At 3:27 PM Taiwan time on April 28, a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, registering the highest seismic intensity of 7 and causing severe damage. The large shopping mall AEON MALL in Kumamoto collapsed, with its outer walls almost completely destroyed, exposing the steel frame structure.

According to the latest reports from Japanese media, including the Asahi Shimbun, white smoke emerged from AEON MALL (Aeon Dream City) around 6:00 PM Japan time, followed by an explosion sound. The second floor then collapsed, and the entire building lost power. The Kumamoto Prefectural Police and rescue units are continuously gathering information and conducting search and rescue operations.

At around 9:00 PM Japan time, police officials stated that regarding the missing individuals inside the facility, 'it is currently estimated that 20 to 30 employees are still trapped inside,' with their life or death still unknown. Rescue teams are working full force to save them.

The Kamimashiki Fire Department, the local fire authority responsible for the AEON MALL area, reported that by 9:10 PM local time, four people had been rescued from the mall and transported to hospitals by ambulance. Their injuries have not yet been clarified, but all four were conscious. It is still believed that people remain trapped inside, and rescue operations continue.

Additional exclusive reports from Wind Media:

- Kumamoto 'Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake': Eyewitness Accounts of Panic—Residents Describe Shaking So Intense They Couldn't Tell Up from Down; One Elderly Man Said, 'I Truly Thought I Would Die.' - Ongoing Updates: Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in Kyushu, Japan—Reports of Kumamoto Castle Wall Collapse and Fatalities at Aeon Shopping Center - After the Kumamoto Earthquake: Lai Qingde and Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Offer Immediate Condolences; The Representative in Japan Reports Local Conditions: 'Buildings Collapsed, and Civilians May Have Been Buried Alive.'

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Source: PR Times
Category: News

Kumamoto AEON MALL Collapses! Police Reveal '30 Employees Still Trapped Inside': Status Unknown

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