JAPAN 2011 TSUNAMI
Destructing everything in it’s path, the biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years, with a magnitude of 9.0, struck the north-easts coast of the country, triggering a 10-meter tsunami wave. This disaster resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and devastated towns. The tsunami spread across the Pacific ocean, and warnings were issued and evacuations carried out. In many countries bordering the Pacific, including the entire Pacific coast of North and South America from Alaska to Chile, however while the tsunami was felt in many of these places, it caused only relatively minor effects. Chile’s section of the Pacific coast is one of the furthest from Japan, at about 17,000 km away, but still was affected by tsunami waves which were 2 meters high. A wave height of 38.9 meters was estimated at Omeo peninsula, Miyako city, Iwate prefecture.
Triggered by the one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit the world in the last century, the tsunami left a trail of destruction. Boats, cars and homes were tossed around like toys in the water. Trains were reported missing. The port city of Sendai, including it’s airport, felt the force of the muddy wall of water. Reaching higher ground or the nearest roof was literally a matter of life or death. As disaster struck, ports were shut and power to millions of homes and businesses were lost. Dozens of fires were sparked along the coast, including industrial sites. There was a confirmed death toll of 15,884 people. xx
Triggered by the one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit the world in the last century, the tsunami left a trail of destruction. Boats, cars and homes were tossed around like toys in the water. Trains were reported missing. The port city of Sendai, including it’s airport, felt the force of the muddy wall of water. Reaching higher ground or the nearest roof was literally a matter of life or death. As disaster struck, ports were shut and power to millions of homes and businesses were lost. Dozens of fires were sparked along the coast, including industrial sites. There was a confirmed death toll of 15,884 people. xx