Japan Tsunami - caught on camera

[Ann]

Just watched this really amazing programme on Channel 4 - where people caught up in the Tsunami in Japan in March 2011 captured the catastrophe unfolding around them on video. One man kept filming inside his car as it was floating away. I had no idea of the force of nature until I watched this - hope I don't have nightmares tonight!! :(
If you missed it - maybe you could watch it on catchup or - its now right now if you have Channel4 + 1.

[SlackAlice]

This is the car.

[Philtaz]

Watched it when it was on a few weeks ago, it got bypassed I think because it was on the same night as the X Factor final and I forgot to remind AB'ers about its repeat tonight.

It was terrifying yet compelling viewing and put more of a personal touch to the disaster. It's probably worse because we know what's coming whereas at the time those affected by it obviously had no idea of the magnitude and scale of it.

[Ann]

Yes SlackAlice that is the amazing footage of the chap in the car (we had an English commentary on the programme) The most terrifying part was where the car smashed into something and everything went black inside the car and you could see the water inside the car with him still videoing .............wonder how he got out and how he managed to get to safe ground - he must be the luckiest man on the planet!

[Philtaz]

My enduring memory from the programme was the footage of the two men near the docks in hard hats who were strolling along in a rather casual manner, despite the tsunami siren. One was certainly washed away but the fate of the other was unclear.

[Ann]

Yes Philtaz - I saw them. Hubby and I remarked that the filming must have been carefully edited as so many people would have been swept down the street, I was dreading seeing any drowning......... it was a good programme though, compulsive if gory viewing.

[andy-hughes]

I avoid all these programmes.

I remember listening to a psychologist on Radio Four not long after 911 and he advised that the constant repetition of the images of the towers being hit was actually bad for people viewing them. The impact of the images increases a sense of futility, hopelessness, anger and grief in the viewer, none of which makes any differnce to the event portrayed.

It is sufficient for me to read about such events once, and maybe to see footage once, but after that, I see no benefit in repeating that experience.

[Smowball]

Yes I saw it too. Quite unbelieveable how quickly the water washed away everything in its path

[Philtaz]

I understand your point Andy though the two differ greatly. One was a result of terrorism so there is always a blame and retribution aspect to it.

The other being a natural disaster at least doesn't leave the victims with a sense of hatred or wish for revenge as that is not possible. The sense of loss though is no easier to bear.

[andy-hughes]

Thanks Philtaz.

I can understand that there is interest in these events, but on a personal level, i find it too distressing to see real-life destruction like this.

On a cruise from New York to Englnas in the summer, the dinner companions of my wife and i were a couple who liver literally down the road from the Twin Towers. On 911, the man had been to vote in a school a matter of yards from the towers, and saw everything, inlcuding the people jumping. As he described the events, he began to weep very discreetly, dabbing his eyes as he spoke. He confirmed that the trauma of that day had left him with physical disability, meaning he walks with a stick, and his doctors have confirmed that the injury is psychosomatic, not physical, a result of what he has seen. This is a man who had a career training Navy SEALS, so he was certainly no-one's softie, but his reaction to that day all these years on was immensely moving, and reminded me again why I never want to view that filmed footage ever again.