It was one week ago that a powÂerÂful 9.0 magÂniÂtude earthÂquake struck off the coast of northÂern Japan. The tsunaÂmi that folÂlowed, with waves reachÂing as high as ten meters, swept as far as ten miles inward. In this video shot for The Guardian, we see the hauntÂing devÂasÂtaÂtion in ShinÂtona, a small town in the MiyaÂgi preÂfecÂture (one of the areas worst affectÂed by the tsunaÂmi). Amidst the wreckÂage on the streets, it is quite stirÂring to peer inside some of the washed-out housÂes, where we observe broÂken chiÂna and damÂaged phoÂtographs, remindÂing us how life can be so proÂfoundÂly and perÂsonÂalÂly interÂruptÂed by nature’s fury.
The Guardian artiÂcle accomÂpaÂnyÂing this video can be read here. For more videos and resources relatÂed to the earthÂquake in Japan, includÂing ways you can help, see this post.
Eugene Buchko is a blogÂger and phoÂtogÂraÂphÂer livÂing in Atlanta, GA. He mainÂtains a phoÂtoÂblog, EruÂdite ExpresÂsions, and writes about what he reads on his readÂing blog.
It’s very sad that so many peoÂple died I can’t stay calm watchÂing these terÂriÂble videos from http://www.torrentoff.com, but the nuclear probÂlems are comÂpleteÂly their own fault.. why the hell would they build a nuclear plant in a known earthÂquake area.. this could have been preÂventÂed!!
This is a tragedy, and every time I turn on the news, it seems as if the JapanÂese are facÂing anothÂer post-earthÂquake issue. I travÂeled to Japan 2 years ago, and I was amazed at their tenacÂiÂty even then. The peoÂple I met on that trip were some of the kindÂest and most welÂcomÂing I have ever encounÂtered. This still proves true today even as I watch the news and read artiÂcles. Despite the danÂgers of the nuclear plant, extreme weathÂer, etc, the citÂiÂzens seem to realÂly be workÂing togethÂer to stay strong for the counÂtry and each othÂer. I hope the interÂnaÂtionÂal comÂmuÂniÂty will conÂtinÂue to do the same, and not just “forÂget” about this in a few months (as many, unforÂtuÂnateÂly, did with the case of Haiti), because these damÂages– both physÂiÂcal and emoÂtionÂal– will take years to heal.