The Aeon Mall Kumamoto shopping facility in the town of Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, which was severely damaged by an explosion following the powerful July 28 earthquake, pictured by a drone on Aug. 10
The panel will investigate the causes of the explosion at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in the town of Kashima and the deaths resulting from the blast, and propose measures to prevent a recurrence, the major Japanese retailer said.
Lawyer Yasuhiko Fujitsu heads the panel.
Chiba University graduate school professor Yoshihisa Maruyama and University of Tokyo graduate school professor Naoya Sekiya were appointed as members.
An expert in gas explosions will also be appointed later.
The quake occurred on July 28. It registered 7, the highest level on Japan's seismic intensity scale, in some areas in Kumamoto.
The subsequent explosion resulted in the deaths of seven tenant employees.
At a board meeting on Aug. 5, Aeon decided to establish the investigation panel.
