Surgeons were forced to continue an operation in Kumamoto, Japan, when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the region on the afternoon of July 28. CCTV footage captured medical staff holding onto the operating table and shielding the patient as the room violently shook.
The surgical team struggled to maintain their footing as the theatre swayed, with equipment rattling and lights flickering. One staff member fell while attempting to steady machinery, while others held the operating table to prevent it from moving. The procedure was briefly paused but later resumed and was completed successfully. The hospital returned to normal operations on August 5.
The earthquake, which hit Japan's southern island of Kyushu, resulted in approximately 38 fatalities and over 120 injuries. The tremors caused widespread damage, including the collapse of homes and buildings, cracked roads, and power outages. Seven people died when a shopping center in Kashima collapsed. In the town of Hikawa, over 800 homes were destroyed or damaged.
Thousands of residents were left without running water and thousands of homes remained without power for several days amidst temperatures reaching 35C. Around 9,000 people sought refuge in emergency shelters. The earthquake's impact was also felt across the sea in South Korea.
Images emerged of collapsed buildings, buckling roads, and derailed trains. An explosion occurred at a shopping center in Kashima Town, reducing its second floor to rubble. Footage from a Costco supermarket showed toppled shelves and shoppers climbing over them. Sections of the Kyushu Expressway, a vital highway, sustained severe damage, with parts of the road appearing to split in two. Major companies including TSMC, Sony, and Fujifilm evacuated staff from their plants in the affected area as a precaution.