Sanriku

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THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE WAVE ON THE COAST OF JAPAN by Eliza Ruamas Sidmore on the evening of june fifteenth eighteen ninety six the north-east coast of hondo the main island of japan was struck by a great earthquake wave tsunami which was more destructive of life and property than any earthquake convulsion of this country in that empire The whole coastline of the Sanriku, the three provinces of Rikusen, Rikuchu and Rikoku, from the island of Kinkwasan, 38 degrees 20 minutes north, northward for 175 miles, was laid waste by a great wave moving from the east and south that varied in recorded height from 10 to 50 feet.

A few survivors who saw it advancing in the darkness report its height as 80 to 100 feet.

With a difference of but 30 minutes in time between the southern and northern points, it struck the Sanriku coast and in a trice obliterated towns and villages, killed 26,975 people out of the original population and grievously wounded the 5,390 survivors.

It washed away and wrecked 9,313 houses, stranded some 300 larger craft, steamers, schooners, and junks, and crushed or carried away 10,000 fishing boats, destroying property to the value of 6 million yen.

Thousands of acres of arable land were turned to wastes, projecting rocks offshore were broken, overturned or moved hundreds of yards, shallows and bars were formed, and in some localities the entire shoreline was changed.