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.