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  • HOPELESS: A man looks at the devastated landscape in the city of Sendai in northeast Japan on March 12, 2011. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan and led to a severe tsunami on March 11 (XINHUA)
  • DREAMS WASHED AWAY: A residential area is hit by a tsunami in the city of Natori in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan and led to a severe tsunami on March 11 (XINHUA)
  • FIRES AMONG THE FLOOD: The remains of houses washed away by a tsunami burst into flames in the city of Natori in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan and led to a severe tsunami on March 11 (XINHUA)
  • SUNKEN AIRPORT: After a severe earthquake and tsunami, northeastern Japan's Sendai Airport is submerged in water on March 11, 2011. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in the northeast Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan and led to a severe tsunami on March 11. The massive waves caused a large number of deaths and even more injuries as they swept away cars and buildings located in coastal areas (XINHUA)
  • MAKESHIFT BRIDGE: Villagers use a fallen coconut tree as a bridge to cross a river in Sabeugukung Village on North Pagai Island, Indonesia on November 1, 2010. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake on October 25, 2010 created a tsunami which hit the island (XINHUA)
  • TRYING TO SURVIVE: A boy searches for supplies amid the ruins of a village in the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia on October 29, 2010. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake on October 25, 2010 created a tsunami which hit the islands, resulting in 509 deaths. Twenty-one people were declared missing and tens of thousands were left homeless (XINHUA)
  • WHAT WASHED UP: A shoe lies among debris in Villa Constitucion, 450 kilometers away from the Chilean capital of Santiago on March 3, 2010. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami to hit the city of Maule, located 320 kilometers away from Santiago on February 27, 2010 (XINHUA)
  • DEVASTATING SCENE: The town of Dichato in Chile lies in ruins on February 27, 2010. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami to hit the city of Maule, located 320 kilometers away from the Chilean capital of Santiago on that day. At least 500 people were killed, thousands went missing and 81,444 houses were destroyed. More than 371,000 victims were directly affected by the disaster (XINHUA)
  • SEARCHING AND HOPING: A volunteer searches victims for identification near the Matavanu coast resort fields on September 30, 2009 in tsunami-hit Samoa (XINHUA)
  • DESTRUCTIVE AFTERMATH: An aerial photo of a village taken on October 3, 2009 after a tsunami hit American Samoa in the South Pacific on September 29, 2009 (XINHUA)
  • CLEARING DEBRIS: An islander clears debris on Upolu Island in southeast Samoa on October 3, 2009. An 8.0-magnitude earthquake on September 29, 2009 near the Samoan Islands resulted in a tsunami that killed at least 184 people (XINHUA)
  • WALKING THROUGH THE RUINS: A man walks through the remains of his neighbor's home near Lalomanu Beach in the South Pacific island country of Samoa on September 30, 2009. An 8.0-magnitude earthquake on September 29, 2009 resulted in a tsunami that killed at least 184 people (XINHUA)
  • CONSOLATION: Two residents console each other in front of their destroyed homes in tsunami-hit Pangandaran, Indonesia on July 18, 2006, one day after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the area (XINHUA)
  • ALL THAT REMAINS: Debris is scattered on a beach in Pangandaran, West Java, Indonesia on July 18, 2006, one day after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the area (XINHUA)
  • ONCE A HOME: A woman stands in front of her house, which was destroyed by a tsunami following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake which occurred the day before in Pangandaran, West Java Province, Indonesia on July 18, 2006 (XINHUA)
  • A LIFE WASHED AWAY: The body of a tsunami victim is found on the Pangandaran Beach in West Java Province, Indonesia on July 18, 2006. A 6.8-magnitude earthquake on July 17, 2006 caused a tsunami to crash into beach resorts on Java Island, killing 668 people and injuring 1,438 others. Two-hundred and eighty-seven people were declared missing and 74,000 people were left homeless (XINHUA)
  • GHOST TOWN: A woman rides a motorcycle on the vacant streets of devastated Banda Ache, Indonesia on January 15, 2005, following a tsunami caused by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake on December 26, 2004 (XINHUA)
  • TRYING TO RECOVER: Surviving parents put their children's textbooks and a few toys under the sun to dry in a town in Phang Nga Province, a barrier island along the hard-hit west coast of Thailand on January 7, 2005. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake occurred on December 26, 2004 near the Indonesian island of Sumatra, creating waves up to 30 meters high. More than 230,000 people were killed or declared missing in countries that were hit by the tsunami (XINHUA)
  • GRIEVING FOR THOSE LOST: A woman mourns the death of a relative killed by a tsunami on December 28, 2004. The tsunami hit the city of Cuddalore, some 180 kilometers south of Madras, India, two days previously. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake occurred on December 26, 2004 near the Indonesian island of Sumatra, creating waves up to 30 meters high. More than 230,000 people were killed or declared missing in countries that were hit by the tsunami. The waves also resulted in more than $10 billion in damage (XINHUA)
  • WATERS RECEDE: An aerial view of Marina Beach in the southern Indian city of Madras after a tsunami hit the area on December 26, 2004. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake occurred near the Indonesian island of Sumatra, creating waves up to 30 meters high. More than 230,000 people were killed or declared missing in countries that were hit by the tsunami. The waves also resulted in more than $10 billion in damage (XINHUA)
  • LOST AMONG THE DEBRIS: A survivor looks at the remains of houses after a tsunami hit villages in Sissano on the north coast of Papua New Guinea on July 21, 1998. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake occurred on July 17, 1998, creating a tsunami that killed more than 1,000 people. Over 2,000 people were declared missing, a further 6,000 were left homeless (XINHUA)
In recent years, tsunamis have led to heavy death tolls and property damage around the world.

Storm surges, volcanic eruptions, and undersea earthquakes all have the potential to create a tsunami. Seismic activity on the ocean floor is often the main cause.

Tsunamis are strong destructive waves caused by the displacement of large volumes of water. Their waves can rise more than 10 meters, creating a wall of water capable of destroying everything in its path. Tsunamis can travel thousands of miles without losing momentum, due to the amount of energy expended by the forces that cause them.
Special Coverage on Earthquake in Japan >>
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