Kumamoto Quake: Surgeons Protect Patient, Complete Surgery Amid Tremors
A team of surgeons in Kumamoto, Japan, continued to protect their patient as a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake shook the operating theatre on July 28. Footage from the hospital shows medical staff grabbing the operating table and shielding the patient as the room swayed violently, with equipment rattling and lights flickering overhead.
One medic was knocked to the floor while trying to steady moving machinery, while two others clung to the operating table to prevent it from shifting during the quake. Despite the chaotic conditions, the team managed to briefly pause the procedure, steady themselves, and then resume the operation. According to NHK, the surgery was completed successfully, and the hospital returned to normal service by August 5.
The earthquake struck Japan's southern island of Kyushu in the afternoon, leaving at least 38 people dead and more than 120 injured. Homes and buildings collapsed, roads cracked open, and thousands of properties lost electricity. In the aftermath, more than 79,000 people were left without running water, while around 3,500 homes remained without power for several days as temperatures reached 35 degrees Celsius. Approximately 9,000 residents sought refuge in emergency shelters. The tremor was also felt across the sea in South Korea.
The incident highlights the extraordinary composure of medical professionals in life-or-death situations, even as the ground beneath them gave way. Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and provide relief to affected communities.
