"Not Seriously Injured"... 5-Year-Old Burn Victim from Earthquake Dies After Being Denied Hospital Admission and Waiting

Rejected 3 Times from Ambulance to ICU
Initial Medical Staff: "Admission Not Possible as Condition Is Not Severe"

A five-year-old boy who suffered burns in the aftermath of the Noto Peninsula earthquake in Japan died while waiting after being refused hospital admission. The boy's mother expressed her grief, saying, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect him."

On the 12th, local media including Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported the tragic story of a boy who passed away during the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture on the 1st. At the time of the earthquake, Kanato Nakagawa (5) was staying in Shika Town with his mother Misaki and relatives. When the earthquake hit, a kettle boiling on a kerosene heater fell, splashing hot water onto Kanato's buttocks and legs. When his mother removed Kanato's pants, his skin was peeled off, and she tried to cool the skin with water, but the water supply was cut off due to the earthquake.

A five-year-old boy who suffered burns in the aftermath of an earthquake on the Noto Peninsula in Japan passed away while waiting after being refused hospital admission. The boy's mother expressed her grief, saying, "I'm sorry I couldn't protect him." On the 12th, local media including Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported the tragic story of a boy who died following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that struck Ishikawa Prefecture on the 1st.
[Photo by KTK]

Misaki immediately called an ambulance, but due to the chaotic situation right after the earthquake, she was told that they could not dispatch. Unable to watch her child suffer, Misaki took the wheel herself and headed to the hospital. However, the roads were cracked and travel was difficult due to the earthquake. Misaki called 119 again, and only then was an ambulance dispatched, allowing them to go to the hospital.

The medical staff who examined Kanato said, "It is not a minor injury, but it is not severe either," and refused to admit him. Misaki had to spend the night in the hospital lobby with Kanato, who was crying, saying, "It itches. It hurts." On the morning of the 3rd, Kanato had a high fever of 41 degrees Celsius along with burn pain. After receiving painkillers prescribed at a clinic in town, they visited the hospital again the next day. Misaki said, "He had a fever and his complexion had changed. He was treated in the intensive care unit, but could not be admitted."

As Kanato endured the long waiting time, his condition worsened and he was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, it was already too late. Shika Town authorities announced that Kanato died due to a sudden change in condition from a minor injury. After Kanato's story was reported locally in Japan, there was a flood of criticism directed at the medical staff and Shika Town authorities. In response, the hospital that initially examined him and Shika Town authorities stated to local media that they are investigating the circumstances of the death.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the Noto Peninsula earthquake has surpassed 202 as of 2 p.m. on the 9th. The total number of injured, including those with minor injuries, is 565, and 102 people remain missing. Approximately 28,000 residents are living in evacuation shelters.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.