Footage from security cameras at Kumamoto General Hospital, in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, show the particularly tense moments experienced by medical personnel during the powerful earthquake of July 28, 2026. While four surgeries were in progress, a security camera recorded one of the surgeries during the earthquake. Medical equipment swings violently as surgeons immediately bend over the patient to protect him. At the same time, a nurse opened the operating room door to ensure that the evacuation route remained accessible in case the building buckled.

The hospital reports that all four operations were completed successfully with no adverse events for the patients. Then, the facility was forced to temporarily suspend outpatient services due to a water outage that prevented the use of some medical devices. After confirming that the water from the backup well was safe to drink, restarted its operation.

The magnitude 7 earthquake,1 on the Richter scale hit southwestern Japan, causing significant damage in Kumamoto Prefecture. The preliminary death toll was at least 13, with many wounded, as rescuers continued to search amid a series of aftershocks. The earthquake also caused power and water outages, disrupted transport and damaged many buildings, including a mall that suffered a major explosion, possibly due to a gas leak.