AROUND 30 SHOPPING CENTER EMPLOYEES GO MISSING

TOKYO, JULY 28 /SRNA/ - Around 30 employees are reported missing after an explosion at a shopping centre in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, which was preceded by a powerful earthquake in the region, the NHK network reported.

The National Police Agency said that several people believed to be employees of the "Aeon Mall Kumamoto" shopping centre were trapped after the explosion that struck the complex in the city of Kashima.

According to the latest available information, contact has still not been established with the missing employees, whose number is estimated between 20 and 30.

Police and firefighters are checking whether they are trapped inside the damaged building.

Most shoppers were evacuated outside following the explosion, which occurred at around 6:00 p.m. local time. However, it remains unclear whether any shoppers are among those reported missing.

Authorities said they had also received information indicating that fewer than 10 people are listed as missing at other locations due to the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's southwestern Kumamoto Prefecture at 4:27 p.m. local time.