'Nerves of steel': Heroic Russian doctors stay calm during surgery as 8.8 earthquake hits
The clip, which has been reshared by thousands on X, shows the moment the 8.8 magnitude earthquake, the strongest the world has seen in 14 years, hit Russia's Kamchatska region.
In the video, doctors react to the tremors, and as they grow stronger, they rush to ensure that the patient is stable. As the room continues to shake, the medical professionals hold onto the patient without worrying about their own safety.
News agency Reuters cited the region's health minister Oleg Melnikov, who said on his Telegram channel that medics in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky continued surgery on a patient despite being hit by the powerful quake.
The video earned praise online, with many saluting the bravery of the medical professionals. "That's incredibly brave of those medics. Their dedication is commendable in such dire circumstances," said one user.
Another user quipped, "Those doctors deserve medals. Maintaining focus during an earthquake takes nerves of steel."
Others praised the doctors for risking their own lives to save their patients. "True resilience shows in the toughest moments. These doctors kept their focus during a powerful earthquake, refusing to abandon a patient mid-surgery. That kind of calm under pressure isn't just inspiring; it's the gold standard for any system built to endure shock."
"Good to know that the authorities and the members of the medical fraternity keep cool in times of disaster. That's the first step to a calm resolution," added another.
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First Post
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'Body eats itself': What happens when the body is starved of food
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In March this year, Israel tightened its blockade into what aid workers describe as a 'total siege,' halting nearly all food and medical supplies. This decision has left trucks full of emergency aid stalled at land crossings, unable to enter despite the urgent need. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The consequences have been catastrophic. Gaza's 2.1 million residents have endured relentless bombardment and mass displacement — many forced to flee multiple times, with some uprooted as many as ten times since the conflict began. This instability, coupled with blocked aid, has created conditions of extreme hunger. Images emerging in recent weeks show visibly emaciated children. The United Nations World Food Programme has reported that more than one-third of the population has gone for days at a time without food. At least a quarter of Gaza's people are now experiencing what experts describe as 'famine-like conditions.' Local doctors report scenes in hospitals where many Palestinians too weak to donate blood and mothers physically unable to produce breast milk for their babies. The World Health Organisation warns that the 'worst-case scenario of famine' is no longer a prediction — it has arrived. In July alone, the WHO documented 63 deaths from malnutrition in Gaza. UNICEF estimates that 100,000 women and children are currently suffering from severe malnutrition, while other UN agencies warn that disease is spreading rapidly and health infrastructure has almost completely collapsed. What happens to the human body without food While hunger is a universal sensation, prolonged deprivation sets off a series of profound changes inside the human body — changes that can ultimately end in death. 'If you're not eating enough, we have evolved mechanisms for how to stay alive,' Dr. Kevin Stephenson, a malnutrition expert at Washington University in St Louis, US, explained, while speaking to National Public Radio (NPR). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We basically eat our own body for nutrition.' This self-consumption unfolds in five overlapping metabolic stages, as the body adapts to survive without external energy sources. Phase one In the earliest stage of food deprivation, the body turns to its most accessible energy source — stored carbohydrates, mostly in the liver. 'The carbohydrate stores in our liver are like protein bars that our body has evolved to be able to tap into,' Stephenson explains. During a normal overnight fast, or even the gap between meals, the body already taps these reserves. If no food is consumed beyond this initial period, the carbohydrate stores run out — typically within 24 to 48 hours — and the first weight loss begins. Hunger pangs and stomach 'growling' may occur as the digestive tract contracts to clear out remnants of food. Phase two By the second day, the body switches fuel sources, relying on fat. As fat is broken down for energy, blood sugar levels drop. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness and lightheadedness. Phase three Around the third day, the liver ramps up production of ketones — compounds derived from fat that serve as an alternative fuel for the brain. This ketone production allows the body to keep functioning without the severe symptoms of low blood sugar. Paradoxically, some people report a fleeting sense of mental sharpness during this stage, along with a reduced desire to eat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Phase four As hunger stretches into days and weeks, the body enters a conservation state, slowing its metabolism to preserve energy. Heart rate and blood pressure drop, and the body reduces production of certain hormones. 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Gaza is now adding dramatically to those figures. Palestinian children gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City, July 22, 2025. File Image/Reuters Stephenson warns that the danger for children is acute and fast-moving: 'It's so, so common to hear this story from a mom: 'My kid was irritable and felt hot. I took them to a local doctor, and within two hours, they were dead.'' Children with even minor infections — pneumonia, diarrhoea — spiral downward rapidly. Illness drains energy stores further, and their already fragile systems can't recover. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In severe cases, children stop feeling hunger entirely. Their digestive systems weaken, and they lose the ability to swallow. Muscle wasting affects the jaw and the coordination needed to eat. 'Swallowing is so fundamental to survival, and so I think that speaks to how severe this condition is,' Stephenson says. 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The GHF has also been criticised for operating in a militarised environment, where chaotic crowd control and insufficient safeguards leave the weak and vulnerable behind. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Only those physically strong enough to reach and withstand conditions at these sites — often younger, healthier individuals — can collect rations. Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City. File Image/Reuters People who are elderly, disabled, or too frail are effectively excluded, deepening the inequality in access to desperately needed food. More than 100 humanitarian organisations have called on Israel and international authorities to ensure unimpeded access for aid deliveries, insisting that starvation on this scale is both preventable and reversible if assistance reaches those in need. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
News18
2 days ago
- News18
Nagalands identity must be preserved, promoted globally: CM Neiphiu Rio
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Advisor to the CM and Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), Abu Metha, who had also accompanied Rio to the two countries, said the visits, facilitated through invitations from the Kochi Prefectural Government in Japan and the Indian Embassy in Russia, mark a strategic step in positioning Nagaland on the global map. Metha said the tour has had a multi-dimensional impact — enhancing institutional cooperation, promoting Brand Nagaland, fostering cultural diplomacy, and creating international opportunities for Naga youth. PTI NBS NBS RG First Published: August 01, 2025, 17:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
41 cases of bird flu in 10 states raise concerns: Everything you need to know about symptoms, treatment, how it spreads
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