Four people are now believed to be missing or trapped at Aeon Kumamoto Mall, the shopping center operator said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
About 2,700 staff worked at the mall, but part of it collapsed in an explosion that occurred about an hour after the earthquake struck Tuesday afternoon. Customers had been evacuated from the complex after the earthquake and before the explosion.
According to its website, the mall is home to around 200 shops, services and restaurants, including well-known international retailers such as H&M and Uniqlo, as well as a cinema complex. It had a parking deck that could accommodate 5,000 vehicles, according to Reuters.
The mall was heavily damaged in the earthquake that hit the area in April 2016.
During the 2017 reconstruction process, the mall emphasized seismically reinforced ceilings, according to Reuters.
It reopened after the 2018 earthquake, but just last month the company touted its “restart efforts” for a “large-scale renewal” of the complex, Reuters reported, citing an Aeon press release.
Aeon Mall operates 163 centers in Japan, according to its website. Located in small communities across the country, many serve as one-stop shopping and entertainment hubs for large areas.
The company has expanded overseas as well, with 40 malls outside Japan.
