Israel car park transformed into ‘world’s largest underground hospital’ in 30 hours
- Staff prepare cavernous space beneath Rambam hospital, Haifa, 50km from border with Lebanon, equip it with 1,300 beds, 4 operating theatres and medical supplies
- ‘I never thought I’d see this time in my career. But well, there we are,’ anaesthetist Philippe Abecassis said, sighing
The level three basement car park in northern Israel’s Rambam hospital is usually what it is called – a place for people to leave their vehicles.
But in 30 hours this week, staff transformed the cavernous space into a huge underground hospital, equipping it with 1,300 beds, complete with fittings for oxygen, medical and sanitary supplies.
Israel is in the midst of a war to “crush” Hamas, after the Palestinian Islamists stormed its southern border at the weekend, shooting dead more than 1,200 people in the streets and in their homes.
Israel has since been pounding Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, where 1,537 people have been killed.
Located in Haifa, about 50km (31 miles) from the border with Lebanon, Rambam hospital readied the underground facility as Israel has also traded cross-border fire with Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions in Lebanon since Sunday.
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It was in fact a 2006 war with Hezbollah which had prompted the hospital to come up with its dual-use idea.
