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.
Wow. Thanks for the education. I hope I never have to use it. Prayers for the dead and the families who mourn them.
You are probably correct..... how sad.....
I am in tears reading this. Of course ANY parent would be running toward the waves to "try and save" her children. And these people look European and probably don't know any more about tsunamis than I did last week. You'd think it's a bad wave and you could duck under it for a second and come out ok on the top.