“I’m not a hero — it’s our job. It’s just that such strong earthquakes don’t happen every day,” Armenian obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Mher Adamyan told Russian news outlet Izvestia. He, along with an anesthesiologist and another obstetrician, helped a 14-year-old schoolgirl—accompanied by her 35-year-old mother—safely deliver a healthy baby girl weighing 2.9?kg during the powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Sunday, July 30.
The quake was the strongest in the region since the infamous 1952 Severo-Kurilsk disaster and triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, impacting Japan, Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast, Chile, and more. While tremors are frequent in Kamchatka, earthquakes of such intensity are rare, Adamyan noted.
“There was fear, of course,” he admitted. “But you realize you can’t run. You have to stay with the woman in labor and help her. That’s what matters at that moment.”
Despite ongoing tremors, Adamyan and his team at the Kamchatka Regional Maternity Hospital remained at their posts throughout the night. “We were on duty all night after the quake. There were several births and even surgeries,” he said.
Social media users were quick to hail Adamyan as a hero, praising his composure and dedication during the emergency. Many expressed deep admiration for the Armenian doctor who prioritized his patient’s safety over his own. The family has already stated their intention to petition local authorities to formally recognize and reward the medical team—especially Dr. Adamyan—for their outstanding professionalism and heroism under crisis conditions.
Videos and posts circulated online applauded his actions, highlighting the quiet courage and professionalism that healthcare workers often display under the most difficult circumstances.
