DORIAN GEIGER
The Sheaf

TORONTO — On March 11 at 2:46 p.m. local time, a devastating earthquake rocked northeast Japan, triggering tsunamis across the Pacific Rim.

Thousands of Japanese are scrambling to find higher ground in the midst of the most catastrophic earthquake the country has witnessed since it began recording seismic activity 140 years ago.

According to the U.S. Geological Service, the disaster is reported to have measured an astounding 8.9 on the Richter Scale. Striking 125 kilometres off Japan’s Eastern coastline at a depth of ten kilometres, the earthquake surpassed the Haiti earthquakes of 2010 in magnitude; some 50 aftershocks have been recorded. The quake is also the fifth largest in the world over the past 111 years.

Japanese government officials have confirmed almost 500 deaths and fatalities are expected to rise substantially in coming days.

The tsunami that thumped Japan soon afterwards was mammoth, with waves reaching upwards of seven metres. Cars, buildings, homes and other debris were swept away like driftwood in a current, annihilating Japanese infrastructure in its
wake. In the urban centre of Sendai, the airport has been completely submerged with most flights in and out of Japan being cancelled or delayed. Despite the abundance of water, fires have also managed to break out in urban areas due to collapsed gas lines caused by the tsunami.

Over 50 countries, including Canada, have been issued tsunami warning in response to the disaster. Waves began to crash ashore in Hawaii in the early hours of March 11 and reached Vancouver Island and British Columbia’s northern coastline at
approximately 7 a.m. Waves were reported at measuring roughly one metre on Canada’s west coast and no considerable damage has been incurred.

Although B.C.’s coastline endured minimal damage, it was clear the natural disaster hit close to home for many Canadians who were traveling when the disaster struck. The atmosphere at Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson Airport in Toronto was subdued; strangers silently crowded around TVs to view the havoc unfolding in Japan. Some phoned loved ones in B.C. and those in other affected areas around the world.

Japanese officials warn another earthquake is imminent in the coming days while the country’s government struggle to evacuate heavily populated areas and rescue those stranded by the tsunami.