AEON Reports Seven Fatalities and Damage From Earthquake Followed by Explosion

TOKYO, Jul 30 (Pulse News Wire) – Aeon CO.,LTD. (8267.T) reported seven fatalities and significant damage following an earthquake and subsequent explosion at its facility in Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28.

The magnitude 7 quake struck at approximately 16:27 local time, prompting immediate evacuation procedures. A blast occurred afterward, causing partial roof and exterior wall collapses, and activating sprinkler systems. As of July 30, the company confirmed four additional deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven. Approximately 2,700 employees from affiliated stores were accounted for through safety checks conducted via a dedicated system.

The company has established a crisis management headquarters since the incident and suspended operations at Itochu Mall Kumamoto. Aeon CO.,LTD. stated it would cooperate fully with authorities to ascertain the cause of the explosion and prevent future incidents. An assessment of the impact on the company's consolidated earnings is ongoing.

Further updates will be provided should there be any significant developments affecting performance or requiring disclosure.