【1080p】仙台市名取川河口の津波襲来時の状況空撮

Рет қаралды 2,027,264

11 жыл бұрын

please don't forget Earthquake Disaster of 2011.3.11　The place is the Tohoku region in Japan
あの日、あの時、あの場所で何が起こったか風化させないために
00:50すぎ画面左上のプールと建物は閖上小学校　道路は10号線となります
05:40すぎ画面を横切る形の広い道路は仙台東部有料道路・名取ICです

Пікірлер: 392

@tamiya2345 5 жыл бұрын

カメラマンのカメラワークが絶妙だな。津波が逃げ遅れた車に迫ってる直前に自然とフレームアウトさせてるから。

@cartracer21m37 5 жыл бұрын

さすが報道のプロだよね

@jaycal1920 5 жыл бұрын

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Malta Japan not found File not found File not found File not found File not found Oh wait here it is... m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iZeWadmTztu5pGQ.html m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nrmapcSl27SrnaM.html If i say japan, it gets nuked If i say us embassy, it gets bombed If i say italy or greece or spain or malta it gets rewarded And they are in melbourne australia calling me manager, president, king.... But put me in psyche ward and try to bury me and all acting on my behalf. Who the fuck do they think i am? Die for your own sins.

@jhonson_639 3 жыл бұрын

先日、この映像を撮影した方のインタビューがヤフーニュースになってましたね。アップにしてはいけない、と思ったそうですね。

@user-hw3fp1hl1j 3 жыл бұрын

私の母はこの名取で仕事中でした。迫り来る黒い水に恐怖以外の何者でもなかったそうです。奇跡的に全身に水は浴びましたが命は助かりました。自衛隊の方々に救助されました。寒くて怖くて何年たってもその場には行けません。フラッシュバックがあるようです。未曾有の大災害。

@texmex_tacos 3 жыл бұрын

在米日本人の高校生です。アメリカに来る前までは10年ほど仙台に住んでました。今日の地理の授業で地震と津波について扱ったのですが、どうしても東日本大震災の事が頭をよぎりとても辛かったです。

@user-ps5gw5ud2h 2 жыл бұрын

数々の津波映像を見てきたが、当時これが1番衝撃受けた。畑をヘドロが覆っていく映像を見て鳥肌が立った。改めて自然の恐怖を感じる。人間は自然には逆らえない。

@ribnmrr 5 жыл бұрын

7:08 頃に土手をかけ登ってる人影が見えるけど、この人たちはこの土手に登ったおかげで助かったようです。少しでも高いところへ逃げること。それに尽きます…

@user-bg2mn5sq9c 2 жыл бұрын

これ東部道路ですかね東部道路がなかったらもっと内陸まで津波が到達していただろうし、逃げ場もなくてさらに被害が大きくなっていたかと思うとゾッとしますね

@user-rc5cq4zl4u 4 жыл бұрын

かなり内陸まで津波来てる事が鮮明に分かる貴重な映像

@kaito6378 6 жыл бұрын

当時、震災関連でまず最初にテレビをつけて映ったのがこのヘリコプターから撮った映像だった。「は？何これ！？やばっ…」って、ただただどうなるのかをみていました。

@danmichaelpinon7277 5 жыл бұрын

God bless

@volvopolestar5599 5 жыл бұрын

水の流れ、実際はものすごく早いのだろうけど、引いた映像だとゆっくりに見える。それがものすごく怖い。

@user-kk7cc7dz7j 5 жыл бұрын

1:41津波から走って逃げている人がいるね・・・

@mujuryokushin4806 4 жыл бұрын

こんな長閑な田園地帯にまで、舐める様に…当時、この映像は衝撃的で今でも忘れられない。

@user-cc9mv9rr5w 5 жыл бұрын

上からみたらよくわかるけど地上からみたらどこから来てるか、どこまで来てるかが一切わからないからもうパニック状態なんだよな。怖すぎ・・・

@ruitenglin1097 5 жыл бұрын

Thursday Yes I am sure you talk to your mom the same way you did here.

@keinduce 5 жыл бұрын

@@ruitenglin1097 jajaja Fuck piece of shit

@sumaoo9877 4 жыл бұрын

10:11 あたりからの津波のデカさよ… でもこんな平地だとどこに逃げたらいいんだよ…

@itiyokimo8563 3 жыл бұрын

とにかく海から離れていち早く高台を目指すしか…

@scdevon 5 жыл бұрын

Incredible footage. Props to the camera person. Thanks for sharing. This will be great historical video documentation for hundreds of years to come.

@mitegoro 3 жыл бұрын

今日であれから10年。地元は仙台市若林区、当時住んでたのは福島県。仙台荒浜の同級生の自宅はみんな流された。自分がその当時住んでいた福島では放射線で騒がれて、絶望の淵にいたけどこの10年でかなり復興した。まだまだ完全ではないけどその時の自分に言いたい「この状況はいずれおさまる。大丈夫だ」と。

@core5862 5 жыл бұрын

この時まだ小学生で津波の映像見たのは覚えてたけど、こんなに酷かったのか

@taiyang811 5 жыл бұрын

Its makes me cry watching this. I wonder how many kids, mom, dad, etc. Lost their lives. I cant imagine if i was to loose my kids or wife. God bless u japan.

@grammyandus6743 5 жыл бұрын

Never will forget this I remember I was working as a waitress in a restaurant. When I saw this news I had to go home I couldn’t take. So many lost of life it’s and still is scary it could happen anywhere. My condolences to everyone that lost a love one to this tragic event. 😪

@demelof1913 5 жыл бұрын

😢 But technically, certain coastlines are much much more vulnerable. Also, subduction zones are much much more likely to have them

@user-pl4gp4eo3r 5 жыл бұрын

津波が見えないから、近くまで来ていても気付かず歩いてる人が多い。

@NA-qr5lw 5 жыл бұрын

おそらく残念ながら助かってないでしょうね。

@81Heino 5 жыл бұрын

03:45 - watch a white truck approaching directly to the tsunami. 07:14 - watch him running safely on the highway! Nice escape!

@spikespa5208 4 жыл бұрын

And the black car at 3:25 dodges the first surge but is caught when traffic backs up.

@kineticdeath 4 жыл бұрын

I still remember when this was happenning live, it was on tv and they were showing the wall of debris rolling across field trapping cars with people inside them.. even now its like... unbelievable. what a tragedy and disaster

@WhatTheScoots 4 жыл бұрын

Imagine trying to drive away from that wave but the street only goes diagonal to the tsunami and driving over the fields will slow you down/get you stuck

@user-bz3jq5qe3h Жыл бұрын

このニュース映像当時7歳で見たけど、今でも忘れられない。

@user-zz5mk5mi7u 4 жыл бұрын

こんな内陸まで来るんか、、、うちも海がある平野に住んでるからまじ不安でしかない

@user-hk4lg4xt1q 3 жыл бұрын

この映像見ると心臓がドクドクして、もうやめてって涙が出てくる

@user-io2kj6vi7n 7 жыл бұрын

津波のときは反対車線も走れるようにしないとダメですね、並んでる間に巻き込まれる

@alaindavid166 5 жыл бұрын

私たち日本人の友人たちへの思いやりのある思い、勇気を！

@patts6153 5 жыл бұрын

WOW that power is incredible!!

@therealblackmonolith 5 жыл бұрын

Somehow miraculously, that semi around 4:40 at the bottom makes it out, going backwards!!!!

@user-im5zm5fg3j 3 жыл бұрын

これフライト5回目の新人カメラマンが撮ったんだね。知らなかった。

@user-vo5rz2zc6u 3 жыл бұрын

ヤフーニュースに記事あった人ですかね？撮るのを躊躇ったようですが、この映像は世界的に重要な資料となるでしょう。

@yanoya23 3 жыл бұрын

鈴木さんでしょうか今でも葛藤があるようですね…つらそう。

@82inakamono87 5 жыл бұрын

名取市の海岸線には、岩手県宮古市にあるような防潮堤は無く、住民の方々の津波に対する意識が非常に低かった。

@skunmimimi7250 6 жыл бұрын

まさかこんな風に迫ってきてると思わなかったはず。だから逃げるのも遅くなった。これは見やすいし、もっとこーゆ情報が欲しかったのかな。

@koukurin 5 жыл бұрын

さすがにCGでしょ…

@S-pegasus 5 жыл бұрын

@@koukurin CGなわけ無い。げんじつだよ。

@user-wd1zb7je3b 5 жыл бұрын

栗村康一頭可哀想な人ですね。

@chakamaru_UT 2 жыл бұрын

渋滞で車が津波に飲み込まれていくのを見ると胸が痛くなる…

@KM-bu8ec 6 жыл бұрын

The magnitude at one time had been reported at almost 10. It was way stronger than 8.4. The final magnitude was 9.- something.

@CHRISGT34 5 жыл бұрын

It's crazy to think that each point on the scale is equal to 1 whole.

@sumdued 5 жыл бұрын

Kathleen Muhlenkamp The magnitude of the earthquake was 9.1

@paulmccormack5524 4 жыл бұрын

Knocked the earth 6 inches off its axis and moved the islands off japan 4 meters closer to the United States.

@ahmadyoung1732 5 жыл бұрын

First time watching this footage of japan tsunami, where is the full video of this??

@Picsou313 4 жыл бұрын

THANK GOD the second wave broke before reaching the shore.... such a tragedy

@argi2216 5 жыл бұрын

Cada vez que lo veo se me encoge el corazon

@user-ti5ne6yy7i 6 жыл бұрын

タイトルが仙台市名取川って載ってますが、ほぼ　名取市　名取川なんですよね。閖上映ってるし

@fk9005 5 жыл бұрын

一応仙台市若林区荒浜も

@tommy3431 2 жыл бұрын

閖上　小塚原は酷かったなあ・・・北釜もね未だに旧空港ボウル前を通るときは心が重い１週間くらいずーっと置きっぱなしの遺体もあったしね　関係者皆亡くなったんだろう

@BlackMidalia 5 жыл бұрын

Noticed a black bird flying backwards and then abruptly disappears, starts 23 seconds. Left hand side of screen.

@Nutmeg- 5 жыл бұрын

Imagine how lucky birds are. They could just take off and flee while humans and other animals were forced to witness this.

@fearlesssabertiger 5 жыл бұрын

Man 2:18... wonder what happened for the first car to stall so much ended up dooming everyone behind them

@ashleyt2953 5 жыл бұрын

I hope the person who got out and ran made it. I think I saw them again in the top left corner at 3:14

@calebmuteti5650 5 жыл бұрын

driver may have just panicked

@larryslemp9698 4 жыл бұрын

I would have been around those maroons in a New York SECOND!!

@macarioleyva7832 8 жыл бұрын

It's amazing how much power the ocean waves have.

@heidikurz6609 4 жыл бұрын

Why did they spend so much time fulming where it wasnt happening? I kept craning my neck to see just above where they would film during the middle of this

@Gekka0544 6 жыл бұрын

画質がいいから見たくないものまで見えてしまう。

@3lullabies 5 жыл бұрын

makes a hurricane/typhoon look like just a little storm......tsunami is total destruction....so many people lost everything,our hearts are always with you.

@Curi0u50ne 10 жыл бұрын

Yes and you see some fold just don't seem to be driving with an effort, but Mabee the land is to rough to drive trough,

@mayonezyuzarsif220 5 жыл бұрын

oh my GOD ...

@wrestlingfan4ever76 5 жыл бұрын

That is so sad. So many people didn't make it.

@naoyukisasanami 4 жыл бұрын

The Highway Toll Booth should have been opened. lots got stuck with jam

@hebneh 5 жыл бұрын

There many moving vehicles in this video, each of which contained a least the driver. You want to watch a particular one to see what happens to it, but it's frustrating - either the camera moves away from it, or it's obscured by smoke. I suspect / hope that a number of these cars were carried upright for a distance by the moving water, then eventually deposited someplace as the wave withdrew, leaving the occupants alive. This is completely possible.

@demelof1913 5 жыл бұрын

One hopes. There were so many ...

@GetCraftyLemons 5 жыл бұрын

I just started watching three of these films, and I had no idea how a tsunami worked in waves!!! This is some scary crap, and I live in a state prevalent for tornadoes!!!!

@hebneh 5 жыл бұрын

@@GetCraftyLemons Yes, a tsunami consists of multiple waves. There is no way to know which wave will be the biggest in any particular location, and the series can go on for hours, although after about 45 minutes or an hour, the waves are very small. This 2011 tsunami affected much of the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaii, the effects lasted for most of the day, after the largest waves arrived between 3 and 4 am.

@GetCraftyLemons 5 жыл бұрын

@@hebneh Wow, it really freaked me out to see cars get swallowed up that had been moving. So sad!!!! I even cried during one of them. I can't believe I didn't understand tsunami's. I know it sounds silly, but I thought it was a gigantic wave for some reason or I'm old and really forgetting worse than I realized lol (but not really a laughing matter)!! 😋

@hebneh 5 жыл бұрын

@@GetCraftyLemons Well, if you live in the MIdwest, you've never had to deal with a tsunami. A tsunami can produce "a gigantic wave" like regular surf (only far more powerful), or a sort of flood that comes ashore and keeps getting deeper and faster, or a turbulent mass of water. Any or all of these can occur during a tsunami event.

@dominic2014 5 жыл бұрын

The three waves you see here 10:51 are absolutely immeasurable

@sweettrubble4635 5 жыл бұрын

It's biblical.

@tomc3372 5 жыл бұрын

映画を越えてる

@shaybaby2427 5 жыл бұрын

This was just 8 years ago. I heard at last count it was a 9.1 earthquake! The biggest in recorded history! Which is why the earthquake and tsunami leveled entire cities. I watched this live like the rest of the world and I still have a hard time believing it. The thought of my entire city being washed away is too much for me to comprehend.

@pineappleberry6088 3 жыл бұрын

車が逃げきれんくて飲まれた瞬間涙ぼろぼろ出た……生きたくても生きれんかった人達の10年間、自分たちにできることはこういった動画を通して後世に伝えていくこと……百問は一見にしかずと言う言葉の通り、地震や津波の恐怖をこういった数々の動画を見て感じ取ってほしい。常に瞬時に逃げる行動、備え、家族との話し合いを心がけておいてほしいですね……

@Andrei_Polk 5 жыл бұрын

Очень хочу в Японию съездить. Но не во время цунами. :) Хотел бы вообще в Японии жить, мне нравится Япония. Японцы - сильная и интересная нация.

@florecita5059 7 жыл бұрын

Dear Lord,imagine all those people in the ground,standing there,just wachting and then Tsunami took over everything,God bless their souls...:(

@phillipsmith6416 5 жыл бұрын

What is that strange object speeding across the water top left corner at 4:53 /14:00 Much too fast to be of human or animal origin . ?????????????? Is this the same apparition that was seen on another Tsunami video

@DarkLight753 5 жыл бұрын

First time I've seen this footage in it's entirety. Amazing shots of the waves. I'm in the UK but I was thinking of Japan that day...and the days after. Beautiful country. And they've recovered well. Lots of respect.

@940steel Жыл бұрын

Incredible footage... wow

@yanoya23 3 жыл бұрын

1:55あたり、画面奥から手前へ車が走ってきて停止しているけど道路塞がれてる…すれ違って奥へ向かおうとした車もどうなったのか…

@sirspikey 5 жыл бұрын

note to nest time this happens: don't leave your cars in the middle of the road!!!!

@fk9005 6 жыл бұрын

あの広い仙台東部道路まで4kmくらいある平野で車を使わずに逃げるのはむり...

@shirinegi 6 жыл бұрын

地元民ですが、さようですね。それにあの真っ平らな土地で手っ取り早く避難できる高台もこの当時は東部道路くらいしか無かったんです。東部道路の西側と東側で、風景が全く違ってましたもんね。

@user-sg1uj3xb3n 4 жыл бұрын

@@agoney535 fuck off

@Seishow2003 4 жыл бұрын

gin 感情的になりすぎだ。確かに言うことは正しい。だが言葉遣いが原因で口論になる可能性もなる。ネットのモラルを考えて、あまり感情的にならないように接した方がいいと俺は思う。

@user-rm2wh6zf1j 4 жыл бұрын

Des Moines 結構ブチギレてる癖にリンク貼るとかツンデレかよ可愛いな

@user-yt9rk8yu2b 4 жыл бұрын

Des Moines それな

@GKFF9872 20 күн бұрын

Truly a stupefying and terrifying thing to watch. I can only imagine what it’s like being caught up in something as unstoppable and unyielding as this.

@tetumae1585 5 жыл бұрын

白いトラックは有料道路にうまく逃げれたね！これは場所の運が大きく影響するね！

@ro3948 5 жыл бұрын

自分もそのトラックを注視してました。最初、津波がくる方向に逃げてて、慌てて鬼バックして最後は高速のスロープ登ってましたね。

@user-xw7xm1xw8z 4 ай бұрын

田んぼを渡る津波震災後は農家さんも大変だっただろうに津波で田んぼや畑は荒れて脳さ作るのも大変だった利して

@Indrid__Cold 7 жыл бұрын

The greatest disaster in a modern nation in over 100 years. Imagine if this had struck in the dark of night, say 3am. Hundreds of thousands might have died in the confusion.

@Sagebrusher07 5 жыл бұрын

The greatest disaster since 2004.

@grammyandus6743 5 жыл бұрын

Defenely i agree. Can’t beli till this date still be haunted by this disaster. May all the lost their life May they rest in peace’s. 😪

@sarah-janethomson8119 5 жыл бұрын

It was such a tragedy and the force of the water is just incredible, however the 2004 boxing day tsunami had a much higher death toll at a devastating 250,000 people killed. They are both terrible natural disasters that should never be forgotten. Especially today when Indonesia face the aftermath of another tsunami. My thoughts are with them.

@chad_bro_chill 4 жыл бұрын

I think y'all missed that he said "in a modern nation." The average Westerner really doesn't think of Indonesia as being "modern."

@richardoedward7569 4 жыл бұрын

Indrid_Cold no japanese will still have their emergency earthquake and tsunami warning waking up the whole city

@zikragreenfarm 5 жыл бұрын

Wow what a coverage

@phillipevillageon6168 5 жыл бұрын

What is it at 4:49 ?

@LSZocker2009 5 жыл бұрын

THAT WAS PREDICTABLE!

@user-ul3gt6bt4i Ай бұрын

数回この映像見ながら涙😭が溢れて早く逃げる逃げてと思いながらこんなに早い津波恐ろしい😱道路は、動けず止まって乗ってる人達も超パニックだと思うよ！津波があちこちから回り込んで逃げ場を塞ぐ津波❗亡くなられた方々のご冥福をお祈り致します！

@TC-tm3nq 5 жыл бұрын

When a fishing boat passes your front door it is time to worry. 😬

@paulmccormack5524 4 жыл бұрын

God bless Japan

@grammyandus6743 5 жыл бұрын

wow This is scary to this day I know lots of people that doesn’t believe in this. This could happen anywhere if the continent people need to get more educate in this fenomenales that happens almost every day in these earth. Anything could happen any day people need to read nd educate more on thereselfs about our surroundings. I believe anything could happen. God bless all. 😘🙏🏽

@carl_kun 5 жыл бұрын

NHK WORLDの映像かな。トリミングした下の方に、「BRAKING～」の赤い字幕らしき物が少し見える。

@bobv8219 5 жыл бұрын

So many people lost their lives sitting in traffic because the lead car wouldn't move I don't understand that I would be smashing through the back of cars just to get forward I don't understand stopping

@kaiseriv8483 5 жыл бұрын

I'd be off roading into the farms before I sat still.

@kikojonesfrank4076 5 жыл бұрын

But wait I see a car passing someone and they never stop to help

@user-lq6xo8ev1d Жыл бұрын

4:38 右下の白いトラックがバックしながら逃げて高速に入って逃げ切れてて助かったようで安心です犠牲になってしまった方々へのご冥福をお祈りします

@SerAbiotico 5 жыл бұрын

En 1.21, abajo a la izq. se ve un auto subiendo a la banquina intentando escapar. 1.42, un camión a la derecha que estaba avanzando, da marcha atrás buscando otro camino pero la inundación lo atrapa , y parece que quien conducía se baja para refugiarse en el edificio. 2.15, una fila de 5 vehículos también a la derecha atascados porque el primero se detuvo, un conductor parece que fue arrastarado por el agua y los desechos, y otro escapa corriendo con suerte incierta. 3.28, dos coches oscuros en el cuarto superior izquierdo de la imagen se detienen y son alcanzados por la marea. 4.39, un helicóptero aparece por derecha sobrevolando la zona. 7.30, personas corriendo por el campo a la izquierda. 8.32, personas reunidas en una azotea en la parte de abajo de cuadro.

@ch.9488 5 жыл бұрын

This movie was the most shocking moment in my experience.

@thedivaqueen5031 5 жыл бұрын

7:24 all those people had left there cars just to run up on the free way

@user-de2iu9vb7z 5 жыл бұрын

大量の水を動かす力って凄まじい圧力が必要だけど、こうして空から見るとまるで紙に墨汁が染み渡るよう

@GilbertGStaInes 5 жыл бұрын

why not specify how far out they should go???

@GetCraftyLemons 5 жыл бұрын

Unreal!!!!!

@kathyyoung1774 4 жыл бұрын

One tsunami wave measured 57 feet.

@y-mefarm4249 5 жыл бұрын

Even though this happened years ago, it is still very painful to watch as if it just happened today. This is the first time seeing this particular footage. And probably the most tragic watching those poor people in those cars getting swept away. Heartbreaking.

@rosamejia2171 5 жыл бұрын

Que miedo y no entiendo como algunos carros se quedaban parados cuando tenían otras rutas para escapar

@user-zg6th5ke2c 3 жыл бұрын

小学生だったけど津波が襲う映像はよく覚えてる

@lilibeth548 5 жыл бұрын

En el minuto 4:42, se observa pasar un objeto volador de derecha a izquierda, alguién sabe que pudo ser?

@sergiorojas4388 5 жыл бұрын

2:47 white car ..RIP

@escfan2706 5 жыл бұрын

Sergio Rojas Can’t see it

@user-mp2sw8dl4n 7 жыл бұрын

始まってから7分２２秒にある、「高速道路に逃げるひとたち」をアップにできませんか？できればタイトルも教えてください。よろしくお願いします。

@user-sn3iv6sd9n 5 жыл бұрын

小さくだけど、車を乗り捨てて必死に走っている人が見えた。津波の距離的に助かっていないだろう。軽トラも、津波に挟まれて呑みこまれていくのが見えた。

@user-ob1gt8zi6d 5 жыл бұрын

野々山奈美結構アウトなのが写ってますね💧

@jpkjnn6733 4 жыл бұрын

"6 and 10 meters" - it reached up to what, 40 meters?

@quickfruits6963 4 жыл бұрын

jpkjnn Yes. Some areas, especially inner bay areas where narrow land are surrounded by mountains, recorded 36m+. That is more than 118ft.

@FareezLovesMe 11 жыл бұрын

What I noticed in the Sendai videos are that the vehicles would not drive over the farmland, even if it means getting stuck in traffic and getting killed by the tsunami. They would follow the roads and would stop if get caught by traffic. This is insane. Drive through the farmlands please if that would save your lives.

@1234lavallee1 7 жыл бұрын

The reason for that is the soil is wet,its winter just turning to early Spring,they would start to get more rain at this time of the year,this area tends to be more temperate due to the warm Pacific Ocean currents,much like what we have here in BC,Canada near the coatline...the ground would be very sodden with rain so cars would literally get stuck in muck...most people would be trying to get to the main Sendai Expressway which would be the highest point,since this area is a coastal plain and quite flat...the Sendai Plain is actually a part of Sendai City.

@user-ln3rw4bj3h 5 жыл бұрын

Мы разделяем утрату и гибель людей,всегда предлагаем посильную помощь! Только не надо переворачивать историю ,передёргивать события давно минувших лет. Человеческое сострадание осиротевшим,поколеченным и ввергнутым в нищету семьям! Нам,людям,надо объединиться против таких грозных стихий. Выдержки и стойкости пострадавшим ! С сочувствием и дружеским участием.

@sweettrubble4635 5 жыл бұрын

@@1234lavallee1 And being that flat plain would make it harder to get to safety in time. So sad.

@user-uk8fm7gu7q 5 жыл бұрын

つい、逃げろ！逃げろ！逃げて！って言ってしまう…

@1AloneX2 5 жыл бұрын

7:15! TR3-B!!!!

@Meldis007 5 жыл бұрын

It's sooo stupid, but whenever I see a car I want to call out very loud to speed up!! But sure, they can't see exactly what's really behind them. God so horrible :(

@felixcat9318 4 жыл бұрын

At it's greatest point the tsunami raged 6 miled inland and at it's greatest height was 128 feet! These are truly remarkable figures and having seen the astonishing power of the tsunami as it swept away virtually everything in it's path, I'm thankful that the death toll wasn't higher.