Onward Holdings mandates employees carry valuables after Kumamoto earthquake explosion kills three

Onward Holdings announced new emergency‑room safety procedures after a blast at the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto killed three of its store employees. The explosion occurred following the August 5, 2026, magnitude‑7 Kumamoto earthquake. The three workers had returned to the shop to retrieve personal items such as phones and house or car keys, despite having evacuated the building immediately after the quake. In response, the retailer now requires staff to keep essential valuables on their person at all times during work and to strengthen peer‑verification checks to ensure no one re‑enters a facility after evacuation. The incident at the mall also resulted in a total of seven deaths and 26 injuries, bringing the human toll to 33. Onward Holdings said the new measures aim to prevent similar tragedies in future emergencies.