Kumamoto General Hospital Releases 6.8-Quake Surgery Video as 4 Operations End Safely
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 7
Kumamoto General Hospital Releases 6.8-Quake Surgery Video as 4 Operations End Safely
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 7
Summary
Operating-room footage released this week shows doctors and nurses thrown off balance during the July 28 quake, with two surgeons gripping the table to shield a patient.
Four surgeries were underway when the shaking hit around 4:30 p.m., and hospital spokesman Shotaro Yoshihara said all were completed successfully after the tremor subsided.
Kumamoto General Hospital then lost electricity and water and absorbed an influx of injured residents, forcing it to suspend some services at its 400-bed facility.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake killed 38 people and collapsed several hundred buildings in Kumamoto, though the region avoided wider devastation after years of earthquake-proofing investment.
By Wednesday, the hospital had almost returned to full service, underscoring its role as a key care provider during the disaster's aftermath.