Japanese+Tsunami

Japanese Tsunami 1896 toc

· Struck on the coast of sanriku in northeast Honshu, Japan. · Created by a earthquake of 8.5 magnitude. · The earthquake started in a deep area of water called the Japan Trench. · Worst tsunami in Japans history. · At some points the wave reached 125ft tall. · 26 thousand people died · 9 thousand homes were destroyed · Villagers were celebrating victory in the war against China on the beach at the time of the disaster · 7.50pm 15th June 1896 · It’s epicenter was 90 miles off shore · Earthquake lasted 5 minutes

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[] [|www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article]

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My Report
At 7.50 pm, 15th June, 1896, one of the biggest tsunamis in history struck the Sanriku coast, northeast Honshu, Japan. 35 minutes beforehand a 8.5 magnitude earthquake occurred 90 miles off shore near a deep area of water known as the Japan trench. The impact on shore was small for such a large scale earthquake so a tsunami was not expected.

A series of huge waves reaching 125ft crashed on to the shore killing 26,975 people, injuring up to 6000 more and causing 6 million yens worth of damage ($90,000 - a huge sum 100 years ago). When the tsunami occurred villagers had been on the beach celebrating the annual boys' festival and the return of soldiers from the first Sino-Japan war of 1894. The town was devastated. 9000 homes were destroyed and 10,000 fishing boats washed away.

The news of the disaster took a long time to reach Tokyo and other major cities because as well as being in an isolated area, all means of rapid contact were destroyed. However, after the news had been spread medical and rescue parties flooded (excuse the pun!) into the area to aid the helpless victims. Communities all over the country managed to raise up to 250,000 yen to support the relief effort.

The impact of the tsunami carried across the Pacific. In Hawaii wharves were destroyed and houses swept away and in California a 9.5 ft wave washed ashore. The tsunami has been studied by many people across the globe and some unusual features of this disaster have been discovered for example, the low impact on shore from the earthquake and the violence of the tsunami. There was evidence of significant damage to the bodies of victims, fractured skulls, broken bones and heavy scarring. There were also reports of low water levels in wells all the way across Japan.

There is controversy about how to judge which is the biggest tsunami, for instance the Boxing Day tsunami (2004) resulted in the most deaths but the Alaskan tsunami (1958) was the highest. But there is no doubt that the 1896 Japanese tsunami would have to be one of the worst. It will be remembered for a long time due to the deaths and damage of this treacherous disaster.

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