A 7.1-magnitude earthquake damages an Aeon Mall in Japan, and staff evacuate Cat Cafe MOFF after the tremor. The cats are initially trapped inside the mall’s ground-floor cat café as the building is affected. Sources report that an explosion occurs after the quake, with several outlets citing likely gas involvement, which prompts staff to leave again and makes rescue more difficult.
In the following days, authorities and mall staff conduct additional checks of the wrecked area. Inquirer.net reports that government officials use sniffer dogs to help verify no people remain inside during a final sweep. Separate reports say the mall and emergency services grant permission for the cat café manager to re-enter the building. With that approval, the manager retrieves the cats and safely rescues all 25 animals, which sources state are unharmed.
Dawn adds that after the rescue the cats travel to Hiroshima to receive care at the company’s other cat café, and that the operator provides individual attention upon arrival. Reporting across outlets also notes that the earthquake and related incidents cause human casualties at the mall.
