Medical team in Japan continues surgery during magnitude 6.8 earthquake

A surgical team at Kumamoto General Hospital in Japan performed an extraordinary feat of professionalism when a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck on July 28, with the operation underway at the time. Security footage from the operating room captured the dramatic moments as the entire facility began to shake.

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It was total chaos. Everyone had to step up and deal with the situation as best they could.

The earthquake, which had a depth of 10 kilometers, hit the region around 4:30 p.m. local time. During an abdominal surgery involving five medical professionals, the intensity of the tremor caused equipment and supplies to shift violently. Two individuals fell, while the apparent lead surgeons worked to stabilize the patient's gurney to prevent any irreversible harm.

For a brief period, the hospital lost power, but it was quickly restored. Once the shaking subsided, the surgical team and assistants immediately began reorganizing the operating room and continued the procedure without interruption. The hospital later reported that all four surgeries being conducted at the time of the earthquake were successfully completed.

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It would be a devastating blow if a large-scale hospital like ours couldn't provide medical care.

"It was total chaos," said Shotaro Yoshihara, a hospital spokesperson, in a local media interview. "Everyone had to step up and deal with the situation as best they could." He added, "It would be a devastating blow if a large-scale hospital like ours couldn't provide medical care." The earthquake primarily impacted Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island, causing 39 deaths and 170 injuries. The disaster also led to significant structural damage, including the collapse of buildings and a major explosion at a shopping center in Kashima.

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Everyone worked with maximum effort to restore operability quickly.