Was cleaning up in my picture archive and came across this one. Had to do a reverse image search, as I had completely forgotten what the subject was about. Then I found some relevant articles, here's one:

The Guardian: Japan struck by earthquake and tsunami - in pictures

An 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan on March 11, 2011, and this picture was so orderly and serene compared to the other ones from the disaster. Which is probably why I decided to save it.

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[–] protist@mander.xyz 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

The Tohoku Earthquake was mind boggling. The scale of the earthquake and the tsunami really puts into perspective how insignificant we are in the face of our own planet. At its highest point, the tsunami was 133 feet high (40m). And there was so much footage recorded of the tsunami, the videos on YouTube are endless.

[–] Tonava@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

Going through the endless footage of it on youtube is one the things I always return to. The destruction is unimaginable. The horror is gut-wrenching. Seeing everything just getting washed away is both absolutely terrifying and utterly humbling in a way I've never found anything else to be. The best part though, is seeing people survive; encourage and rescue each other.

It is a horrible event that shows both the cruelest parts of nature and the best of humanity. I am so thankful of all the brave people that have posted the footage. It is something that should never be forgotten

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago

I was in Japan when it happened. I watched live news of people and cars getting swallowed by a wall of water. Gutwrenching is the only way to describe it.

[–] GTKashi@lemmy.world 15 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I was in Ibaraki for this earthquake. One of the only times in my life I was ready to accept that it was the end for me.

Thankfully we didn’t get the worst of it where I was, but it was a crazy time for everyone.

Po po po po~n.

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

I was staying in Asakusa. I ran out of my hotel with only socks on. Walking on the asphalt street outside felt like I was walking on sand the vibrations were so fierce.

Same exact time the day before, I thought I felt a tremor and no one else in the building did. I looked outside and say the powerlines swinging for a moment before stopping. I didn't know at the time that it was a preshock.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 4 points 1 day ago

I was in Fukushima. Thankfully, I was far enough inland not to experience the tsunami, but I could not say that we did not experience the worst of it otherwise.

[–] Drusas@fedia.io 6 points 1 day ago

It was not an 8.9; it was a 9.0. The difference is significant.

[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They should have all walked in formation with the one in the front making train noises

[–] GTKashi@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Not a lot of room for humor immediately after a horrible natural disaster. The mild amusements came when the whole nation couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of nothing but the same three AC Japan commercials playing for weeks, and the communal “ghost tremors” we all experienced long after the quake.

You would seriously feel your own heart beating and it would trigger a panic response.