Following the explosion, AEON presented a compensation policy for the bereaved families, and the president and others apologized. The company also discussed its initial response and its plans for reviewing the incident going forward.
In response to the explosion at an AEON Mall in Kumamoto, AEON set out a compensation policy for the bereaved families, and the president and others expressed their apologies. The company emphasized its commitment to proceeding with compensation, while indicating that an investigation was needed to determine whether legal liability exists.
The article notes that the response, which shifted toward providing compensation at an early stage, has been viewed positively, while also pointing to issues with the explanation of the initial response and its consistency. It discusses whether permitting people to re-enter was appropriate and the need to improve operations going forward.
The article also refers to preventing a recurrence, updating manuals and strengthening training, and calls for a review of how tenant companies are handled and how decisions are made on site. More rigorous efforts by the accident investigation committee to establish the cause and determine responsibility are also cited as requirements.
The incident has prompted a shared recognition that the entire emergency-response system, rather than the compensation policy alone, needs to be reviewed. Messages expressing condolences for those who lost their lives and wishes for the recovery of those affected have also been conveyed.