130 foot waves. A nuclear disaster. Comparing Japan's 2011 tsunami to today's
More than 20,000 people died, including several thousand victims whose remains were never recovered. A further 400,000 people were impacted, their homes and livelihoods and memories washed away. The resulting damage cost an estimated $220 billion − one of the most expensive natural disasters in human history.
On July 30, Japan appears to have mercifully avoided the fate it suffered on March 11, 2011, in what is often referred as the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
Tsunami evacuation orders lifted: threat to Hawaii, U.S. West Coast, Japan eases
Modest tsunami waves did reach the West Coast of the United States after a magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast. The earthquake was powerful. One of the strongest ever recorded. The Klyuchevskoy volcano on the Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's far east erupted, Russian state news agency RIA reported.
Almost two million people had been told to evacuate in Japan. But within hours tsunami warnings in Japan − as well as in Russia and Hawaii − were downgraded, though warnings and advisories were still in place for much of the Pacific Ocean. Alerts were issued in China, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile and Mexico.
Sirens blare, traffic gridlocks: Hawaii braces for tsunami threat
Still, earlier, as Japan waited to see what the impact of this latest tsnumani was going to be, media reports in the country said the nations was on edge but prepared. The Japan Times reported that towns, villages and nuclear reactors, including the Fukushima Daiichi plant, site of 2011's nuclear disaster, were evacuated. Airports shut while office workers rushed to higher floors in coastal cities. Residents inland, the media outlet said, largey went about their business, while the more vulnerable coastal areas quickly implemented long-planned measures.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake itself was relatively shallow. It struck at a depth of about 12 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, in eastern Russia. And, in the end, the biggest waves to hit Japan measured about 4 feet, according to Japan's Meteorological Agency. That's six feet less than was forecast.
One person died.
A 58-year-old woman was killed when her car went off a cliff while she was trying to leave a coastal area. She was on her way, local media reported, to an evacuation site when her car fell from a height of about 100 feet on a national highway in Homo Town, Kumano City, about 60 miles south of Osako and Kyoto.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
13 hours ago
- New York Post
Kilauea volcano erupts out 300-foot lava fountain for 30th time in under a year
Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano began erupting again on Wednesday for the 30th time in under a year, continuing to be among one of the world's most active volcanoes. The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) said 'vigorous fountaining' of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater eruption began around 1:20 a.m. HST. Geologists said the lava fountains are reaching between 150 and 300 feet high, spewing out from the north vent. USGS cameras showed live video of the ongoing eruption from east and west views of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. According to the National Weather Service, light winds could blow volcanic gas emissions and volcanic material may fall to the south of the eruption. An orange aviation alert is in effect, but commercial airports in Hawaii County are not expected to be impacted by the ongoing eruption. 3 The eruption on Wednesday was the 30th time in under a year. USGS 3 According to geologists, the lava fountains are reaching between 150 and 300 feet high. USGS 3 The activity has been ongoing since December 2024. USGS This latest eruption is part of the ongoing activity that started on Dec. 23, 2024. Many of these episodes have lasted a day or less and are separated by pauses of several days.
CNN
21 hours ago
- CNN
Mudslide engulfs Indian village after deadly flash floods
Mudslide engulfs Indian village after deadly flash floods Flash flooding struck northern India on Tuesday prompting at least 70 people to be evacuated while dozens remain missing, according to officials in Uttarakhand. At least four people have died in the flooding, which triggered a mudslide that was caught on video as it engulfed a Himalayan village. 00:46 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 16 videos Mudslide engulfs Indian village after deadly flash floods Flash flooding struck northern India on Tuesday prompting at least 70 people to be evacuated while dozens remain missing, according to officials in Uttarakhand. At least four people have died in the flooding, which triggered a mudslide that was caught on video as it engulfed a Himalayan village. 00:46 - Source: CNN Tornado hits Inner Mongolia Footage shows a tornado hitting Inner Mongolia on Monday. No casualties were reported from the incident, according to a state media report. 00:29 - Source: CNN Why Asia is one of the fastest-warming places in the world CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports from Tokyo and explains why Asia is warming faster than the global average, as Japan endures its hottest day ever recorded 01:03 - Source: CNN Satellite images show damage to Russian submarine base after tsunami Satellite images captured after the 8.8 magnitude quake show damage to a floating pier at Russia's submarine base in Rybachiy and raise questions about fleet readiness. 01:18 - Source: CNN 'I thought, do or die': How a Ukrainian soldier cycled to safety after Russian assault After a Russian assault left all three of his fellow soldiers dead and himself wounded, Andriy, stationed near Siversk, Ukraine, thought his life was over. But back at his command bunker, they hatched a plan. Armed with determination, a will to live - and a bike - he was able to escape. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:12 - Source: CNN Moscow residents on Trump-Putin relationship As the relationship between President Trump and President Putin continues to deteriorate, with Trump threatening harsher sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine is not reached, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen talks to Moscow residents about their thoughts on the tensions between the two countries. 02:02 - Source: CNN Desperation grows in Gaza as aid is airdropped CNN footage on Monday captured the desperation of hundreds of Palestinians in central Gaza as people rushed towards aid boxes that many rely on, as the hunger crisis continues. Six countries were involved in dropping 120 aid packages in total, according to the Israel Defense Forces. 00:34 - Source: CNN Hear from Israeli hostages' families after meeting with Witkoff Steve Witkoff, the United States' Special Envoy to the Middle East, held a nearly three-hour meeting with the families of those still being held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, telling them that the US' 'first priority' is getting the hostages back to Israel, the forum said. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. CNN has reached out to Witkoff's team to confirm that he made these comments. 01:16 - Source: CNN Young Catholics flock to Rome for Youth Jubilee Pope Leo XIV received a rock star's welcome and led a prayer vigil with young people participating in the Jubilee of the Youth in Rome. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports. 01:23 - Source: CNN Witkoff visits controversial Gaza aid site US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza, and visited the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site. He said the purpose of the visit was to give Trump 'a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.' CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 01:53 - Source: CNN United Nations' Relief Chief: If anyone can shift Israeli Government, 'It's of course, the Americans' UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that if anyone can shift the Israeli government, it's the US, and addresses reports of how food aid is being intercepted. 02:09 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Soldiers in Ukraine battle Russian drones CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the frontlines of Ukraine, where soldiers rush to bring in the wounded as drones constantly look for a target. 01:38 - Source: CNN US diminished a key weapons stockpile fighting Iran The US used about a quarter of its supply of high-end missile interceptors during the Israel-Iran war, exposing a gap in supplies, and raising concerns about US global security posture. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports. 01:35 - Source: CNN Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations, as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing war and starvation crisis in Gaza. President Donald Trump reacted to the announcement by threatening to derail trade talks with Canada. 00:30 - Source: CNN
CNN
21 hours ago
- CNN
Mudslide engulfs Indian village after deadly flash floods
Mudslide engulfs Indian village after deadly flash floods Flash flooding struck northern India on Tuesday prompting at least 70 people to be evacuated while dozens remain missing, according to officials in Uttarakhand. At least four people have died in the flooding, which triggered a mudslide that was caught on video as it engulfed a Himalayan village. 00:46 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 16 videos Mudslide engulfs Indian village after deadly flash floods Flash flooding struck northern India on Tuesday prompting at least 70 people to be evacuated while dozens remain missing, according to officials in Uttarakhand. At least four people have died in the flooding, which triggered a mudslide that was caught on video as it engulfed a Himalayan village. 00:46 - Source: CNN Tornado hits Inner Mongolia Footage shows a tornado hitting Inner Mongolia on Monday. No casualties were reported from the incident, according to a state media report. 00:29 - Source: CNN Why Asia is one of the fastest-warming places in the world CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports from Tokyo and explains why Asia is warming faster than the global average, as Japan endures its hottest day ever recorded 01:03 - Source: CNN Satellite images show damage to Russian submarine base after tsunami Satellite images captured after the 8.8 magnitude quake show damage to a floating pier at Russia's submarine base in Rybachiy and raise questions about fleet readiness. 01:18 - Source: CNN 'I thought, do or die': How a Ukrainian soldier cycled to safety after Russian assault After a Russian assault left all three of his fellow soldiers dead and himself wounded, Andriy, stationed near Siversk, Ukraine, thought his life was over. But back at his command bunker, they hatched a plan. Armed with determination, a will to live - and a bike - he was able to escape. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:12 - Source: CNN Moscow residents on Trump-Putin relationship As the relationship between President Trump and President Putin continues to deteriorate, with Trump threatening harsher sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine is not reached, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen talks to Moscow residents about their thoughts on the tensions between the two countries. 02:02 - Source: CNN Desperation grows in Gaza as aid is airdropped CNN footage on Monday captured the desperation of hundreds of Palestinians in central Gaza as people rushed towards aid boxes that many rely on, as the hunger crisis continues. Six countries were involved in dropping 120 aid packages in total, according to the Israel Defense Forces. 00:34 - Source: CNN Hear from Israeli hostages' families after meeting with Witkoff Steve Witkoff, the United States' Special Envoy to the Middle East, held a nearly three-hour meeting with the families of those still being held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, telling them that the US' 'first priority' is getting the hostages back to Israel, the forum said. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. CNN has reached out to Witkoff's team to confirm that he made these comments. 01:16 - Source: CNN Young Catholics flock to Rome for Youth Jubilee Pope Leo XIV received a rock star's welcome and led a prayer vigil with young people participating in the Jubilee of the Youth in Rome. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports. 01:23 - Source: CNN Witkoff visits controversial Gaza aid site US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza, and visited the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site. He said the purpose of the visit was to give Trump 'a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.' CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 01:53 - Source: CNN United Nations' Relief Chief: If anyone can shift Israeli Government, 'It's of course, the Americans' UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that if anyone can shift the Israeli government, it's the US, and addresses reports of how food aid is being intercepted. 02:09 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Soldiers in Ukraine battle Russian drones CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the frontlines of Ukraine, where soldiers rush to bring in the wounded as drones constantly look for a target. 01:38 - Source: CNN US diminished a key weapons stockpile fighting Iran The US used about a quarter of its supply of high-end missile interceptors during the Israel-Iran war, exposing a gap in supplies, and raising concerns about US global security posture. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports. 01:35 - Source: CNN Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations, as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing war and starvation crisis in Gaza. President Donald Trump reacted to the announcement by threatening to derail trade talks with Canada. 00:30 - Source: CNN
