The alarm: Days until the hospitals become overcrowded

Israel
The Doctor in Beirut: We're going to have serious problems

Magnus Falkehed

Published 20.43

BEIRUT. The explosions rocked all of Beirut as Israel tried to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, 64.

"Hassan Nasrallah is doing well," a source told the AFP news agency, according to L'Orient Le Jour.

How many civilians died in Beirut's southern suburbs when entire houses were blown out is still unknown.

In the hotel lobby, several kilometers north of Hezbollah's headquarters, the staff crouched. “Bang, bang, bang.” The first bangs are followed by more. It sounds like it could have been across the street, but in fact it's miles away.

From the roof, a dark mushroom-like cloud is then seen over the Hezbollah suburb of Dahiyeh.

Information immediately comes from the Israeli media that their military has targeted the headquarters of the Shia Muslim militia where their leader is said to have been targeted.

From the hotel roof, mushroom-like clouds can be seen over Dahiyeh in Beirut. Photo: Jerker Ivarsson

The statement will later be denied.

Earlier in the day, Aftonbladet's team had sought permission from Hezbollah to work in their area. It is something that is necessary if one does not want to be harassed by the militia.

After getting the green light, the condition suddenly changes to a blank and categorical no. "A number connected to Israeli authorities", allegedly urged to evacuate the area, one could read on social media. A couple of hours later, the firecrackers come.

Photo: Bilal Hussein / AP

A car crashed into one of the craters formed after the bombing. Photo: Bilal Hussein / AP

The smoke and explosions are followed by the all-too-familiar sound of ambulance sirens in Beirut as the injured are dispersed to various hospitals in the city.

Those actions follow a well-established routine. But it is a routine that is now beginning to be stretched to its limits, according to the chief physician at Geitaoui University Hospital:

- At this rate of incoming casualties, we will have serious problems. Maybe already within days - or in any case weeks, says doctor Naji Ali Rached to Aftonbladet.

Chief physician Naji Ali Rached at Geitaoui Hospital. Photo: Magnus Falkehed

The hospital specializes in burns. In one of the halls, behind glass panes in sterile halls, lie people who look more like mummies. On several of them, one can only make out the nostrils, behind bandages that cover entire bodies.

The oldest patients are cared for since the attacks on pagers, but every day new patients come in burned by Israeli bombs.

- These are injuries that require very intensive care and with a high risk of infection, says Naji Ali Rached.

From the images of craters that were cabled out from the densely populated area, one can fear that the hospitals will be forced to receive more injured people, who during Friday evening were dug out of the race masses.

Craters in the streets after the bombings. Photo: Bilal Hussein / AP