Gaspipe Failures and Human Cost: The Kumamoto Mall Explosion The July 28 explosion at Aeon Mall Kumamoto, which killed three employees and caused extensive damage, raises questions about the safety of Japan's gas infrastructure.
While officials point to broken LPG pipes as the probable cause, experts warn that this disaster is a symptom of deeper problems: inadequate regulations and lax enforcement.
On the day of the blast, chaos erupted at the mall after an earthquake struck 80 minutes earlier.