A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto region while surgeons were performing an operation, forcing the medical team to act quickly as the operating theatre shook violently. Video from inside the hospital shows doctors and medical staff holding the operating table steady and shielding the patient as equipment rattled, lights flickered, and the room swayed. Despite the chaos, the team remained focused, briefly pausing the procedure before safely resuming and completing the surgery.

The powerful earthquake hit Japan’s southern island of Kyushu on July 28, causing widespread destruction. At least 38 people were killed and more than 120 others were injured as homes and buildings collapsed, roads cracked, and essential infrastructure suffered major damage. Thousands of households lost electricity and water supplies, while emergency services worked around the clock to rescue victims and restore basic utilities in the affected areas.

Authorities said nearly 79,000 people were left without running water and around 3,500 homes remained without electricity for several days following the disaster. More than 9,000 residents sought shelter in emergency evacuation centres as temperatures soared. The tremor was also felt in neighbouring South Korea, highlighting the quake’s intensity. The hospital involved has since resumed normal operations, while emergency response and recovery efforts continue across the region.