By Esther Ososanya
In the heart of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russian medics were performing a delicate surgery when the ground suddenly trembled beneath them during Wednesday’s massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Far East coast.
Despite the powerful tremor shaking their tools and threatening their stability, the surgical team remained composed. According to CCTV footage shared by the Kamchatka region’s Health Ministry, the doctors used their hands to steady the patient and their instruments. Health Minister Oleg Melnikov said the patient is now safe and recovering.
“Despite the danger, the doctors remained calm and stayed with the patient until the very end,” Melnikov posted on Telegram.
The quake Russia’s strongest since 1952 triggered tsunami alerts as far as Hawaii, Chile, and Japan. Though no casualties were reported in Russia, several structures sustained damage, especially along the Pacific-facing Kuril Islands and Kamchatka’s coastal towns.
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Chef Roman Kripakov, who works in Severo-Kurilsk, described the scene as terrifying. “Pipes, bricks, they were all falling down from the roofs. I thought about death. I asked everyone for forgiveness and wrote to my wife,” he told Reuters.
Verified videos showed floodwaters engulfing a fish processing plant in the area, while on nearby Antsiferov Island, sea lions were seen fleeing into the sea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov credited strong building infrastructure and efficient alert systems for preventing casualties.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
