A Video Surfaced Of The 9.0 Earthquake And Tsunami That Hit Japan In 2011 And It’s Terrifying To Watch
Nobody is ever truly ready for the destructive force of a natural disaster. While people can be evacuated along with some of their belongings, not everything can be saved.
What makes it even worse is that while disasters like storms and hurricanes can be predicted and prepared for, earthquakes, on the other hand, are impossible to predict.
However, that doesn’t stop people from trying their best to prepare for the unknown. And every bit helps.
A Japanese news network recently released harrowing footage of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
For the past several days, Japan has been experiencing light earthquakes, which range from 3.2 to 4.8 points on the Richter magnitude scale. This, in response, prompted news agencies around Japan to begin disaster prevention broadcasts just in case it gets worse.
One such television news broadcaster, the All-Nippon News Network, released harrowing footage of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami at Sendai Airport, Japan as a part of their disaster prevention program. The tsunami video was filmed and sent to the television station by viewers back in 2011.
The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, or the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, as it’s officially called, was an undersea earthquake clocking in at 9.0–9.1 on the Richter scale.
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
The video was published as part of disaster prevention in response to the recent earthquakes in Japan
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
It was followed by massive tsunami waves, which were estimated to reach up to 40.5 meters in height, traveling at a speed of 700 kilometers per hour and reaching 10 kilometers inland. It was reported that the disaster led to over 15,000 fatalities with over 6,000 injured. People had no more than 10 minutes of warning before the fact to evacuate.
In context, it is considered the biggest earthquake in the history of Japan, as well as the second most powerful in the earthquake scale and the sixth deadliest in the world in the last 20 years.
The powerful images and video provided in this article shows the massive earthquake hitting Sendai Airport. Although the structures are built to withstand the power of the disaster, all of the things inside could be seen violently shaking and falling to the ground. People were seen huddled up to whatever fixed objects they could find in their vicinity.
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
Viewer-filmed footage exemplifies the horrific scope of the earthquake, followed by a powerful tsunami
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
Once the violent earthquake subsided, airport staff began coming over to help travelers. Light fixtures continued to flail around as everyone was standing up. Everyone was soon evacuated outside, but only for a brief moment as it was reported that a massive tsunami was headed their way.
The video also includes footage of the biggest tsunami coming in from the west of Japan. The wave brought in a lot of debris, seemingly of houses and other structures that were swept away closer to the coast. The sheer force of the tide pushed away from the airport’s heavy machinery like it was nothing.
According to the Disaster Preparedness Tokyo Guide, if a person is inside when a strong earthquake strikes, they should immediately seek cover so that they wouldn’t be injured by objects falling off shelves or furniture falling over. It is a must to find a place that would be strong enough to withstand the fall of a heavier piece of furniture, somewhere away from exterior walls and windows. If not possible, use sturdy objects to cover your head. Also, stability is key, so dropping to the floor or finding an object that is stable to hold on to is also a necessity.
Refer to the Disaster Preparedness Tokyo Guide mentioned above for other earthquake situations and guidelines.
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
The earthquake lasted for around 3 minutes, as seen on the video provided below
Image credits: ANNnewsCH
Japan is one of the focal points of powerful earthquakes. It is estimated that around 20 percent of all global earthquakes exceeding 6 points occur in Japan. This occurs because the island country is situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire—a major area where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions happen. Approximately 1,500 earthquakes strike Japan annually, the majority of which are, fortunately, minor tremors.
Here is how people on the internet reacted to the natural disaster…
Horrifying. I have been in 3 major earthquakes, including the Nisqually Quake, which lasted something like 40 seconds. That seems like nothing, but after even 10 seconds of listening to the world fall down around you, each second becomes absolutely interminable. I can't imagine the terror of 3 minutes and THEN watching a tsunami roll in.
If you want a deep perspective of natural disaster at an unbelievable scale, search youtube for Japan tsunami 2011 videos. Phone and camera videos were widely available and caught the disaster in horrifying detail for the hundreds of miles of involved coastline. The magnitude of destruction, the energy unleashed, and the helplessness is beyond comprehension. Here is one summary video: https://youtu.be/GgtFkaLeSnk
I watched that summary video. Thanks for sharing. For those who don't want to watch the whole thing, watch the clip starting at 7:37. I've watched some videos of this here and there, but I NEVER knew that a tsunami could have that much power. It's just shocking. (And the aftermath in Indonesia was almost worse than this original desctruction, with the wealthy stealing up the land before the fisherman, etc. could return, leaving them to go homeless and live desparate lives in cities.)
Load More Replies...I lived in So California for 45 years. When ever a earthquake hit I always prayed that the epicenter was close by (that way it is not as big as one with the epicenter far away) One time I was on the phone with a lady who was in a city located 60 miles away. She said "Did you feel that? I think we are having an earthquake" At that moment I didn't. It took about a minute before we starting shaking, and it sounded like a train rolling in. Fortunately, we never had the tsunami that can follow.
Still by far the worst disaster of the recent decades. People can say what they will but NO disaster did what the tsunami in japan did. The tsunami quite literally removed places and EVERYTHING from said places off the map
I was in an earthquake while driving in California. It was a relatively moderate one, it lasted around 30 seconds, felt like hours. I cannot fathom one lasting for three minutes.
My husband's aunt and cousin went missing in 2006 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia along with million others. The earthquake is horrifying but a big tsunami is much more destructive. The people living near the coast literally had no place to go, as they had less than 10 minutes to evacuate and there were hardly any tall and sturdy building for them. RIP to all the victims.
I was there, and still am. Thankfully, I live in Fukushima city, so a good bit inland, which meant we didn't suffer the effects of the tsunami, so we considered ourselves considerably lucky, but we suffered plenty of other effects. Thankfully now it is a great place to live again, and I'm glad I'm still here. Still, longest and scariest 3 minutes of my life. We were lucky there was an empty car park across the road from us that we could walk to, although the "walking" was really slow because it was tough to keep our balance. Before then, I used to think earthquakes were interesting, because in my country we don't have them, and in Japan they were always really small. Since March 11, 2011, I am completely terrified of them - this one started off really small and just went on too long, then suddenly increased in intensity. So, even small earthquakes totally freak me out now.
I have had the opportunity to be in an earthquake simulator once. They simulated an earthquake that would have registered as 3.0 on the Richter scale. That wasn't necessarily scary because we were aware of what was about to happen but, even with knowing, the entire experience was unnerving. An event to this scale must have been terrifying.
the biggest earthquake I experienced was a 6. But lasted maybe a minute? This one goe son and on and just doesn;t stop. Makes my breath stop just watching it
First I would like to thank the auto-advertising for shoes that appeared over the top of the video. Very smart a*s if you ask me, a person who picked up many, MANY shoes off the distant beaches from where this terrible earthquake and tsunami took place. I pray for the people whose shoes I picked up.
I never experienced earthquake. They must have nerves of steel. I would freak out.
Shouldn't you always take cover under a table or something when there is an earthquake to protect yourself from anything that might fall?? Thats what we have been taught. Did that change??!!
Safest place in in a door jamb with your hands and arms touching both sides. Even if the quake is pretty bad, and you can't get out in time. You do not want to be trapped under a collapsed table.
Load More Replies...It's strange to say but to me, the scariest part were the aftershocks. In Japan, all mobile phones have earthquake early-warning alerts. The night of the earthquake, I was sleeping in a hotel ballroom with hundreds of people and several time during the night, even several time in an hour, you'd have hundred of phones blasting the alarm and you'd wake up in panic, wait a second or two and the building starts to shake again ... Every time thinking "is it going to be the same as the one earlier?!".
Oh, the phone warning thing, I totally know what you mean. Especially the iPhones, their warning alarm totally feels like "PANIC! PANIC! The world is ending!" (Whereas Android is the opposite extreme, like, "Oh, hi there! Just informing you that there is an apocalypse outside.") Anyway, happened in the office in Seoul a couple of years ago or so. I can only imagine the scale of the situation it was for you and everyone who was with you at those times in Japan. Must have been beyond horrible.
Load More Replies...I was in Tokyo at the time. The length of the earthquake was what scares me the most. It is usually quick, even if strong.
It's a bit hazy, but I remember this. I was in third grade, and my best friend, his sister, and his parents had moved back to Japan because of his dad's work. A year later, this happened. Thankfully, they all survived; but to think, that was all nine years ago..
I don't understand - you can Fukushima and even Fukuyama, but if you Fukyamama you're suddenly an outcast.
Horrifying. I have been in 3 major earthquakes, including the Nisqually Quake, which lasted something like 40 seconds. That seems like nothing, but after even 10 seconds of listening to the world fall down around you, each second becomes absolutely interminable. I can't imagine the terror of 3 minutes and THEN watching a tsunami roll in.
If you want a deep perspective of natural disaster at an unbelievable scale, search youtube for Japan tsunami 2011 videos. Phone and camera videos were widely available and caught the disaster in horrifying detail for the hundreds of miles of involved coastline. The magnitude of destruction, the energy unleashed, and the helplessness is beyond comprehension. Here is one summary video: https://youtu.be/GgtFkaLeSnk
I watched that summary video. Thanks for sharing. For those who don't want to watch the whole thing, watch the clip starting at 7:37. I've watched some videos of this here and there, but I NEVER knew that a tsunami could have that much power. It's just shocking. (And the aftermath in Indonesia was almost worse than this original desctruction, with the wealthy stealing up the land before the fisherman, etc. could return, leaving them to go homeless and live desparate lives in cities.)
Load More Replies...I lived in So California for 45 years. When ever a earthquake hit I always prayed that the epicenter was close by (that way it is not as big as one with the epicenter far away) One time I was on the phone with a lady who was in a city located 60 miles away. She said "Did you feel that? I think we are having an earthquake" At that moment I didn't. It took about a minute before we starting shaking, and it sounded like a train rolling in. Fortunately, we never had the tsunami that can follow.
Still by far the worst disaster of the recent decades. People can say what they will but NO disaster did what the tsunami in japan did. The tsunami quite literally removed places and EVERYTHING from said places off the map
I was in an earthquake while driving in California. It was a relatively moderate one, it lasted around 30 seconds, felt like hours. I cannot fathom one lasting for three minutes.
My husband's aunt and cousin went missing in 2006 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia along with million others. The earthquake is horrifying but a big tsunami is much more destructive. The people living near the coast literally had no place to go, as they had less than 10 minutes to evacuate and there were hardly any tall and sturdy building for them. RIP to all the victims.
I was there, and still am. Thankfully, I live in Fukushima city, so a good bit inland, which meant we didn't suffer the effects of the tsunami, so we considered ourselves considerably lucky, but we suffered plenty of other effects. Thankfully now it is a great place to live again, and I'm glad I'm still here. Still, longest and scariest 3 minutes of my life. We were lucky there was an empty car park across the road from us that we could walk to, although the "walking" was really slow because it was tough to keep our balance. Before then, I used to think earthquakes were interesting, because in my country we don't have them, and in Japan they were always really small. Since March 11, 2011, I am completely terrified of them - this one started off really small and just went on too long, then suddenly increased in intensity. So, even small earthquakes totally freak me out now.
I have had the opportunity to be in an earthquake simulator once. They simulated an earthquake that would have registered as 3.0 on the Richter scale. That wasn't necessarily scary because we were aware of what was about to happen but, even with knowing, the entire experience was unnerving. An event to this scale must have been terrifying.
the biggest earthquake I experienced was a 6. But lasted maybe a minute? This one goe son and on and just doesn;t stop. Makes my breath stop just watching it
First I would like to thank the auto-advertising for shoes that appeared over the top of the video. Very smart a*s if you ask me, a person who picked up many, MANY shoes off the distant beaches from where this terrible earthquake and tsunami took place. I pray for the people whose shoes I picked up.
I never experienced earthquake. They must have nerves of steel. I would freak out.
Shouldn't you always take cover under a table or something when there is an earthquake to protect yourself from anything that might fall?? Thats what we have been taught. Did that change??!!
Safest place in in a door jamb with your hands and arms touching both sides. Even if the quake is pretty bad, and you can't get out in time. You do not want to be trapped under a collapsed table.
Load More Replies...It's strange to say but to me, the scariest part were the aftershocks. In Japan, all mobile phones have earthquake early-warning alerts. The night of the earthquake, I was sleeping in a hotel ballroom with hundreds of people and several time during the night, even several time in an hour, you'd have hundred of phones blasting the alarm and you'd wake up in panic, wait a second or two and the building starts to shake again ... Every time thinking "is it going to be the same as the one earlier?!".
Oh, the phone warning thing, I totally know what you mean. Especially the iPhones, their warning alarm totally feels like "PANIC! PANIC! The world is ending!" (Whereas Android is the opposite extreme, like, "Oh, hi there! Just informing you that there is an apocalypse outside.") Anyway, happened in the office in Seoul a couple of years ago or so. I can only imagine the scale of the situation it was for you and everyone who was with you at those times in Japan. Must have been beyond horrible.
Load More Replies...I was in Tokyo at the time. The length of the earthquake was what scares me the most. It is usually quick, even if strong.
It's a bit hazy, but I remember this. I was in third grade, and my best friend, his sister, and his parents had moved back to Japan because of his dad's work. A year later, this happened. Thankfully, they all survived; but to think, that was all nine years ago..
I don't understand - you can Fukushima and even Fukuyama, but if you Fukyamama you're suddenly an outcast.
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