Posted on 12/30/2004 7:06:00 AM PST by dead
AMe here....only a miracle could have saved them.....And the person holding the camera.
White "line" is the wave" coming in.
Blue "outline" is the hills on the other side of the water.
I suspect that the pictures you see were taken from places that did not get hit so hard. The photographer survived.
Judging from the surrounding land mass, it looks like they are in a fairly mountainous location. The photographer and other tourists there probably had amble opportunity to run or scramble up to a higher elevation in time. Just a nice sized hill of thirty feet or so would be enough.
The five people out on the seabed have no hope.
I agree. Thosde waves don't look that intimidating. I suppose though that the closer the waves get the taller they become because they are hitting shallow water. Wow!
ping
In the open ocean. Close to shore they slow down and pile up into huge waves. They are still traveling plenty fast just not 500 miles per hour.
...to someone who's never been caught in undertow or heavy surf.
I don't necessarily thimk she's having fun. I think she's running toward her family.
Meaning my initial impression was wrong, which is exactly what I wrote.
She wasn't being dumb, she was clearly being brave.
Same here. ~ KoRn
Follow the nully shaped blur...
I haven't.
That was the first wave.The second was alot higher,you can see it getting ready to swamp those fairly large sail boats.It was the second larger wave that did most of the death and destruction.
I'll take that argument. Stupidity is definately the most powerful force on Earth. Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.
Shalom.
The first wave is the smallest of the series, and does not appear too horrible to those on the beach. The trouble is these waves don't have a period between crests of 100 or so yards. They have a period of miles. They just keep coming and coming, like the Misissippi river unleashed. Then when they recede, it's the Misissippi in reverse. The trough between tsunami waves is also staggering, this causes the "suckback" phenomenon between waves with the ocean disappearing for up to a mile depending on the slope of the sea floor.
The folks who survived #1 go down to look for lost family members, or to help rescue folks trapped in debris. They have no idea that #2 is winding up, and will be even bigger. Out of 6 to 10 waves, the middle waves are the biggest. So anyone who stickes around to help after #1 is doomed. I would guess all of the folks in these photos are dead. Most likely, they were running down to fetch loved ones. They died from loyalty and devotion. Who would leave children and run to high ground without them? Thousands probably died this way.
AHA! Missed the second post, my bad... I'm just keeping you inm line, dead... :)
Wow. Thanks for the education. I hope I never have to use it. Prayers for the dead and the families who mourn them.
MI NAMI ES TSUNAMI!
Yes, that's the real danger..getting smashed into the rocks, or other debris.
I've swam across rivers that have fast running currents. By the time you get to the other side, you've been carried far down stream, but I didn't have to worry about rocks and other floating obstacles.
Growing up in California, I learned that waves hitting you can push you to the bottom and keep you there until they pass.
These would have done the same but dragged everyone along it's path inland.
Very sad!!
You are probably correct..... how sad.....
A Mach Truck would be going 760 mph...
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