Hospitals in southern Lebanon overwhelmed amid intensifying Israeli airstrikes

Hospitals in southern Lebanon are overwhelmed by the rising number of injuries and deaths from days of airstrikes by Israeli forces, who claim they are targeting strategic Hezbollah positions in the region. According to Lebanese military sources, over 20 people were killed and 65 others injured on Saturday in Israeli airstrikes on several areas in southern Lebanon.

The attacks also hit several clinics and civil defense centers, killing 12 people and injuring 15 others, most of whom were doctors, paramedics, nurses, and firefighters, the sources said.

In Saksakiyeh, the local medical system was overwhelmed after days of sustained attacks.

Medical workers, who have left their own families behind and are working around the clock, said the injuries and death tolls are "terrifying," and they call for international organizations to step in and provide help.

"The number, extent, and severity of the injuries that we have seen, which I believe the whole world has seen, are terrifying. The medical and nursing staff are overwhelmed, and we appeal to international organizations for help. Our survival depends on it," said Dr. Mohammed Daoud, a trauma surgeon.

"We left our families, our children, everyone, so that we could provide humanitarian and nursing services and stand by our people who are sacrificing, who lost their homes and were forced to leave. It's very tiring. We worked 36 hours without sleep," said Marwa Qubaisi, a nurse.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health stated that as casualties from the Israeli attacks continue to grow, the ministry is working with doctors and professional unions to meet the medical needs of the displaced.

"Unfortunately, the attacks are continuing. Since midnight until now, we have had more than 25 martyrs and a large number of wounded. We have mobile medical teams that go around the shelters, each consisting of a doctor and a nurse, and in these cases, we try to find solutions by providing the necessary equipment or admitting patients to hospitals," said Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad.

Israel began extensive airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, marking the most significant Israeli military action in the country since 2006.

Hospitals in southern Lebanon overwhelmed amid intensifying Israeli airstrikes

Chinese marine engineers have kept a close eye on the conditions of coral reefs in the South China Sea by conducting regular surveys to protect marine ecosystems.

The survey team at the Sansha Marine Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources have recently carried out a survey in the waters 14 kilometers away from the Yongxing Island of the Xisha Islands.

Although the forecast indicated fine sea conditions, the team was still troubled by rain at sea -- a common situation for marine operations.

Minutes later, the rainfall stopped, and the engineers had to catch the opportune time to carry out their tasks.

"Today, the first task is to conduct a coral reef survey, and the second is to do some maintenance on a set of underwater equipment," said Zhang Yuanzhou, a marine engineer.

Despite multiple difficulties caused by rain, the team members dived into the waters to take photos of coral reefs and maintain the equipment.

During underwater operations, the engineers should be cautious about reefs and guard against possible attacks from poisonous marine creatures and undercurrents. In such circumstances, they need to cooperate with their colleagues on board to ensure safety.

At last, the team completed the tasks smoothly, saying that every time they dive, the scenery in the waters will be different.

"There were many tasks so we had to swim quickly. It took a lot of oxygen to swim back and forth. Otherwise, we even didn't want to return," Zhang said.

The engineers' efforts in coral reef protection have paid off as China's five key coral clusters have registered recovery, according to a bulletin on China's marine ecological early warning and monitoring in 2025.

Coral reef ecosystems, hailed as the "tropical rainforest of the ocean," play a significant role in maintaining marine ecological balance and biodiversity.

Chinese marine engineers closely monitor conditions of coral reefs in South China Sea