A massive tidal wave can be a cause for fear in any coastal town. For one small Hawaiian town, Hilo, this nightmare scenario turned into a reality. The stunning footage featured in today’s list might prove shocking, but it is important to keep a firm grasp on the power of nature.
Nature’s Fury
The oceans can be testy and temperamental. All it takes is a shift in the earth’s crust, landslides, or volcanic eruptions to create a massive tidal wave.
Powerful Waves
The waves felt in the post-war era were catastrophic for all those involved. However, the original tidal wave that is the focus of this list occurred on April 1st, 1946. It would change Hawaii permanently.
Point of Origin
The tidal wave finds its start in the Aleutian Islands, off the coast of Alaska. Further, tsunamis radiated out for thousands of miles, affecting towns on the western coasts of North America and South America alike.
Record Breaking Power
While this isn’t the most powerful tidal wave ever recorded, it is certainly up there. In any event, a massive tsunami is going to generate untold forces that can be enough to devastate any nearby communities.
The Cause
A landslide under the ocean saw massive amounts of rock shifting and collapsing. Subsequently, this resulted in the aforementioned tidal wave as millions of gallons of water surged to fill the vacuum left in the rock.
Powerless Communities
There is no safeguard or stopping a massive tidal wave. However, as many communities would find, you simply have to let these things run their course and hope for the best.
A Quiet Town in Paradise
Hilo sits on the eastern coast of Hawaii, a beautiful town by all rights. The landslide in the Aleutian Islands would set things in motion that saw the tidal wave hitting this little slice of heaven.
Catastrophe Strikes
Almost five hours after the tidal wave started in the Aleutian Islands, it would strike Hilo. 96 people would lose their lives, as Hilo was nearly wiped off the map.
Sudden Changes
The powerful tidal wave caused a change immediately in Hawaii. Homes and other infrastructure would be devastated as water surged over the coast and moved inland.
A Human Cost
159 people would die in the wake of the tidal wave, with thousands left homeless. While there was a breakwater in place, it wouldn’t be enough to soften the tsunami’s power.
Destruction
When looking at footage like this, it can be easy to dissociate ourselves with the real human beings on the receiving end. Businesses and homes are just gone, with no recourse but to rebuild.
Watch The Full Video
You can watch this harrowing video here. This is a fascinating glimpse into the past, as we are 78 years out from the destruction brought to Hilo.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Zacarias da Mata/Shutterstock.com.
