An explosion occurred at the "Aeon Mall" shopping center in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, prompting the evacuation of at least 200 people to the parking area, according to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing reports from NHK.
Local fire department officials confirmed that several individuals were injured in the blast and have been transported to local hospitals. Furthermore, many people remain trapped inside the building, and several shop owners have reported employees missing following the incident.
According to reports from Kyodo, the explosion caused a partial collapse of the building's second floor. Emergency rescue operations are currently underway at the scene as responders work to reach those trapped within the damaged structure.
This incident follows a significant 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture earlier today. Preliminary reports indicate that the natural disaster has left more than 50 people injured, raising concerns about the structural integrity of buildings in the region.
