Tsunamis are Mother Nature's worst nightmare. These powerful
waves can travel as fast as a jet plane and can destroy everything and anyone
in their path, including entire neighborhoods and entire villages. Large
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and underwater explosions are the main causes
of tsunamis. We'll be looking at 10 of the most devastating tsunamis in
history.
2004 Indian Ocean
Tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean
tsunami and earthquake were among the most devastating natural disasters of
human history. On Dec. 26, 2004, the undersea megathrust earthquake hit
Sumatra, Indonesia's west coast. It was the third-largest ever recorded
earthquake and had a magnitude of 9.1-9.3. A series of tsunamis followed the
powerful earthquake, which was believed to have released the energy of 23,000
Hiroshima atomic bombs. The tsunamis, which were 100 feet high, swept across
the Indian Ocean, destroying 11 countries along its coast, including Sri Lanka,
Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka, and killing more than 230,000
people.
1755 Lisbon Tsunami
and Earthquake
The 1755 Lisbon
earthquake, tsunami and subsequent destruction were a devastating natural
disaster. Lisbon, Portugal was severely damaged by the megathrust earthquake of
November 1, 1755. It was centered in Atlantic Ocean. Researchers believe that
the earthquake may have been a magnitude 9.0. The tsunami that swept through
the city and harbor immediately after the earthquake caused a deadly tsunami.
The tsunami swept people and debris into water, wrecked boats, and destroyed
homes and buildings. The tsunami's devastating effects could be felt in many
coastal areas of Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. Around 10,000 people died
in Lisbon during the natural catastrophe.
1868 Arica Tsunami
- On August 16, 1868,
an earthquake of 8.5 magnitude struck the Peru-Chile Trench off Peru's southern
coast, destroying Arica. A massive tsunami swept across the Pacific from Japan
to Arica after the earthquake. Two American ships were hit by the tsunami's
90-foot waves, killing all but two of its crew members. The tsunami also
destroyed buildings and homes in Arica, causing about 25,000 deaths. The
tsunami caused approximately $300 million of damage and claimed the lives of
around 70,000 people in South America.
1908 Messina
earthquake and Tsunami
A 7.5-magnitude
earthquake off Messina's coast, Italy on Dec. 28, 1908 caused a devastating
tsunami to form. Soon after, 40-foot waves crashed into Messina and other
coastal cities. The tsunami was not predicted and the town was completely
unprepared. The tsunami and earthquake destroyed nearly all buildings in
Messina and possibly killed up to 200,000 people. This greatly reduced the
city's population.
2011 Sendai
earthquake and tsunami
The Sendai megathrust
quake struck the Pacific Ocean close to Northeastern Japan on March 11. 2011.
The powerful tsunamis that swept the Pacific Ocean were triggered by the
massive 8.9-9.0 magnitude earthquake. In just minutes, 33-foot waves swept
along Japan's coast. They damaged roads and railways, and caused a dam to fall.
Fukushima Prefecture saw additional evacuations after two nuclear reactors were
partially destroyed. The National Police Agency has confirmed 2,414 deaths, but
many more are missing.
1960 Hilo Tsunami - On May 23, 1960, Hilo (Hawaii) was
struck by a devastating tsunami that decimated hundreds of buildings and
businesses and left 61 people dead. An 8.25-8.5-magnitude earthquake from the
west coast of South America caused the tsunami. The 35-foot waves crashed into
Hilo Bay, some parts of the island and took place 15 hours later. Eight
separate tsunami waves smashed into Hilo Bay and other parts of the island,
ranging from 4-14 feet above sea level. The damage caused by the tsunami
reached as high as $75 million.
1896 Honshu tsunami: A 7.6-magnitude earthquake at the
underwater fault caused severe water displacement and a devastating tsunami in
Honshu, Japan on June 16, 1896. Many people in Kamaishi, along the Sanriku
Coast of Honshu, felt the earthquake 120 miles away. However, many ignored it.
Within 30 minutes, tsunami-like waves of 115 feet smashed into the town and
decimated many coastal villages. The tsunami claimed nearly 27,000 lives that
day.
1498 Meio Nankaido earthquake and tsunami: A powerful tsunami
struck Japan's coast on Sept. 20, 1498 after an 8.6 magnitude earthquake was
felt near the Nankai Trough. An estimated 31,000 people were killed by the
56-foot high waves.
1946 Aleutian Tsunami - On April 1, 1946, an earthquake of
7.4 magnitude near Alaska's Aleutian Trench caused large sections of the
seafloor along the fault to rise and create a tsunami that swept across the
Pacific. The earthquake caused 100-foot waves to crash into the U.S. Coast
Guard lighthouse on Scotch Cap on Unimak Island. This destroyed the building
and killed all five occupants. Although the Aleutian Islands protected the
Alaskan mainland, the beaches of Hawaii Islands were not as fortunate. The
tsunami flooded Hilo's entire waterfront, killing 159 people.
1883 Krakatoa Sunami - On August 27, 1883, Krakatoa Island
in the Sunda Strait burst into flames. Multiple eruptions caused the walls to
burst and seawater entered the magma chamber. This resulted in the devastating
explosion that decimated two-thirds the island. The explosion caused a series
of devastating tsunamis that sent waves up to 90 feet high crashing onto the
shores of Indonesia, India, as well as other islands. More than 36,000 people
were killed and several coastal communities were destroyed by the powerful
tsunami.