Major Japan quake traps people inside Kumamoto shopping mall, factory

An Aeon mall in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture was damaged in an earthquake on July 28, with authorities saying many people could be trapped inside. © KyodoAKANE OKUTSUJuly 28, 2026 17:05 JSTUpdated on July 29, 2026 04:23 JSTTOKYO -- More than two dozen people may be trapped inside a mall in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake triggered an explosion and caused part of the building to collapse Tuesday afternoon.Four people have been rescued from the shopping center, all of whom were conscious, while 10 people were unaccounted for. Police sources said employees were among the 20-30 people who may still be inside the complex.The explosion occurred at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in the town of Kashima after customers had been evacuated, major Japanese retailer Aeon