What Happened On March 2nd?

The Sanriku coast of Japan on this day in 1933 was struck by a monstrous tremor. At precisely 2:31 A.M. local time (which was actually 5:31 PM UTC on March 1st due to the time zone difference), an absolutely devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 8.4 shook the Japan shore.

Located roughly 290 kilometers (180 miles) and east of the beautiful city, Kamaishi, the epicenter jolted entire towns and villages awake with terrifying violence. Some buildings succumbed to the relentless shaking, while others were left teetering on the brink of collapse.

Japan, being a small country and prone to earthquakes, such as the catastrophe in Kobe 62 years later, was absolutely devastated to see their beautiful cities in shatters.

But the true horror occurred after the earthquake. As the tremors subsided, a monstrous tsunami began its relentless march towards the Japanese coastline. Towering waves, comparable to those of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, were estimated to have reached heights of over 20 meters (66 feet) in some areas.

Coastal towns were the first to take the hit. The devastation extended inland where over 12,000 were left injured and 1,542 were never found, lost in the ocean.

Adding to the chaos were fires that erupted in the wake of the earthquake, begging for further rescue efforts. The initial shock of the disaster quickly transformed into a desperate struggle for survival, as survivors scrambled to higher ground to avoid being swept away.

The human cost of the Sanriku Earthquake was staggering, and estimates suggest that around 1,522 lives were lost. Besides that, the economic devastation was another issue, as vital infrastructure and livelihoods were wiped away in a single moment.