Tenant Operator Apologizes to Families After Fatal Mall Blast, Admits False Reports

The operator of a tenant store at Aeon Mall Kumamoto has formally apologized to the families of two employees who died in the July explosion, acknowledging that it made statements that were not true. The company, Habita, said its earlier reports were distorted by a desire to protect itself and by the shock of the incident, according to Yahoo!ニュース. The apology was delivered directly to the bereaved families, with Habita admitting that its previous accounts of the event did not match the facts. The company did not specify which statements were inaccurate, but the acknowledgment marks a shift from its earlier position, Yahoo!ニュース reports. The explosion occurred at the shopping complex in Kashima Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, in July, causing significant damage to the building’s exterior walls. The blast killed two employees who were working in the tenant space operated by Habita. In response to the incident, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has launched a formal investigation. According to Nippon TV and TBS News, the ministry set up an accident investigation committee composed of gas experts and other specialists. The committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on September 3, TBS News reported.  The investigation will focus on determining the cause of the explosion, which has raised questions about gas safety protocols at commercial facilities. The mall has remained closed since the blast, and the full extent of the structural damage is still being assessed. What to watch next: The findings of the METI investigation committee, which will likely clarify whether the explosion was caused by a gas leak or another technical failure.