Arica Earthquake and Tsunami Devastates Coastlines
August 13, 1868 – A powerful earthquake, registering 8.5 on the Richter scale, struck near the border of Peru and Chile on a Thursday afternoon, triggering a catastrophic tsunami that claimed an estimated 25,000 lives and obliterated coastal cities.
The initial tremors were felt by residents near the Peru-Chile border, with many who were outdoors at the time of the 4:30 PM quake surviving the initial impact. However, those closer to the sea witnessed the ocean recede before being inundated by waves exceeding 15 meters. Subsequent waves reached heights of over 17 meters.
The port city of Arica was wholly destroyed, with other coastal communities in Peru and Chile also suffering severe damage. The disaster’s reach extended inland,affecting cities in Bolivia. beyond the immense loss of life and destruction of urban centers, the tsunami also sank numerous anchored ships. Notably, two U.S. Navy vessels in Arica’s port, carrying cargo valued at $2 million, were lost to the immense waves.
Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami: A Nation in Crisis
March 11, 2011 – Japan was struck by a devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that resulted in the deaths of 15,550 people and triggered the world’s worst nuclear disaster in decades.
Following a powerful earthquake that shook the nation, concerns about a potential tsunami mounted. At Okawa Elementary School in Ishinomaki, students and staff debated seeking higher ground amidst fears of landslides.Tragically, 74 students and 10 teachers perished when the tsunami struck during their evacuation approximately 40 minutes after the initial earthquake.
The seismic event,caused by the collision of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate,registered a magnitude of 9.1. The tremors were felt across nearly all of Japan. Within a short period, a tsunami with waves reaching up to 40 meters impacted 1,900 kilometers of Japan’s coastline.
In Okuma, the Fukushima nuclear power plant lost power, and it’s emergency generators were flooded. This led to the failure of cooling systems for three reactors,resulting in radiation release and the evacuation of the city. The economic impact of the disaster was staggering, with total losses estimated at $309 billion and over 130,000 people displaced by the tsunami.