Key Points
- An explosion occurred at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, leaving the building significantly damaged.
- Emergency services, including police, fire, and ambulance crews, are on-site as of 5:23 AM on July 29.
- A safety cordon has been established around the mall, restricting access to the immediate area.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities believe individuals may still be trapped inside the facility.
- The reporter is moving toward Yatsushiro to investigate further impacts closer to the earthquake’s epicenter.
Full Transcript (English)
Reporter (Tomoyuki Mishima): The time is 5:23 AM. I have arrived near Aeon Mall Kumamoto, where an explosion occurred. A cordon has been set up around the site, and we are unable to go any closer than this.
Reporter (Tomoyuki Mishima): However, as there is a possibility that people are still trapped inside, police, fire, and ambulance vehicles are moving in and out, and a tense atmosphere still hangs over the area.
Reporter (Tomoyuki Mishima): I will now head toward Yatsushiro, which is closer to the epicenter, to continue my reporting.
