Journalist blinded in one eye by rubber bullet amid protests in Hong Kong

Veby Mega Indah, an Indonesian journalist who was covering the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong, has been permanently blinded in one eye after being shot with a rubber bullet over the weekend, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

Indah was injured Sunday after a rubber bullet shattered protective glasses she was wearing, according to her lawyer.

{mosads}By Wednesday, Hong Kong doctors confirmed that she would be permanently blind in her right eye, according to the BBC.

Indah, who works for the Indonesian newspaper Suara, was reportedly wearing a bright vest that said “Press” in addition to the protective glasses.

Protests in Hong Kong have increasingly become more violent in recent weeks. On Tuesday, while the rest of China celebrated its 70th anniversary under Communist rule, one protester was fatally shot by Hong Kong police, the first known use of lethal force by the Chinese authorities. 

Officials reportedly fired 900 rubber bullets and 1,400 rounds of tear gas on Tuesday, compared to 1,000 rounds of tear gas in the first two months of Hong Kong protests.