Street-Level Video of Tsunami in Japan, 2011

This street-level footage of the 2011 tsunami hitting Japan is difficult to describe. Like many others, I’ve seen a lot of clips on the news showing boats being pushed up aginst bridges and buildings. Cars in the water. But in my opinion, this video fully captures just how badly Japan was hit.

I knew tsunamis were destructive, but until I watched this… I don’t think I truly understood how powerful they really were.

What begins as a small flow of water grows and grows, until it becomes all-engulfing. It’s literally difficult to believe what happens, in such a small amount of time. Though the video is 6 minutes long, I urge you to watch it all. It really defies belief.

For those who are wanting to donate to help in the relief efforts, be wary of fake Japan relief pages. Apparently, there are a lot of them out there, designed to grab your CC and personal info. Consider donating to the Red Cross, or with a charity you recognize/trust.