Surgeons shield patient as 6.8 quake hits Kumamoto hospital

A surgical team in Japan demonstrated remarkable composure and dedication as a powerful earthquake struck during an operation, newly released hospital footage shows. The incident occurred on July 28, 2026, when a magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. Security camera video from Kumamoto General Hospital in Yatsushiro City captured the moment violent tremors shook an operating room where an abdominal surgery was underway.

The footage shows medical staff huddling around the operating table as the room shakes violently, with equipment swaying and rolling across the floor. Doctors and nurses shielded the unconscious patient with their bodies, some holding onto the table to prevent it from shifting, while a nurse quickly opened a door to secure an evacuation route. The intense shaking, which caused lights to flicker and go out, subsided after about ten seconds, after which staff frantically checked on the patient. According to the hospital, this was one of four surgeries in progress at the time, and all procedures were successfully completed afterward. No patients or medical staff in the operating rooms were injured.