Story thread · 8 reports / 7 sources

Japanese mall is rebuilt to withstand earthquakes. Then it collapses again

scmp.com · 12dShare

Japan’s Aeon Mall Kumamoto was rebuilt to withstand earthquakes after it was damaged in strong quakes in April 2016. Its June reopening was meant to be a fresh start, the gleaming building a symbol of rebirth for the mall and residents of Kashima town. Then Tuesday’s magnitude 7.1 earthquake shook this new-found confidence. “When this quake hit, I immediately knew the epicentre was close,” 30-year-old Nishiyama told Agence France-Presse. “I didn’t think this was going to happen here again.” Two...

First report: Destroyed Aeon mall had just reopened for 'fresh start' a decade on from deadly quake — reuters.com, 14d