1.4M views · 4.1K shares | Tsunamis are often triggered by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, or meteorites—and the waves can spread out thousands of miles. | National Geographic | Facebook

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami was one of the most powerful and devastating natural disasters in modern history. On March 11, 2011, a massive magnitude 9.0 undersea earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of Japan’s Tohoku region, about 70 kilometers east of the Oshika Peninsula. The quake triggered a colossal tsunami, with waves reaching heights of up to 40 meters (130 feet) in some areas, sweeping across coastal towns and cities within minutes. Entire communities were destroyed, infras