On March 11, 2011, at just before 3pm, a huge earthquake erupted under the ocean off the coast of Japan. With a magnitude of nine, it was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan and the fourth most in the world since records began.
The huge quake, which happened 43 miles from land, triggered a gigantic and terrifying tsunami, which claimed the lives of more than 19,000 people.
Massive waves, reaching 133ft, travelled at speeds of more than 435mph as they crashed into the coast and travelled up to six miles in land, ferociously slamming away anything in their path.
People had just minutes to flee their homes and everything they owned and, horrifyingly, more than 100 evacuation sites were washed away.
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