When did the tsunami hit japan?

Leah went to Japan to meet children still affected by the tsunami. On 11 March 2011, Japan was struck by one of the most powerful earthquakes on record. The quake caused a giant wave out at sea, called a tsunami, which grew to 10 metres high. read more

Japan's scientists had forecast a smaller earthquake would strike the northern region of Honshu, the country's main island. Nor did they expect such a large tsunami. But there had been hints of the disaster to come. The areas flooded in 2011 closely matched those of a tsunami that hit Sendai in 869. read more

Entire towns were destroyed in tsunami-hit areas in Japan, including 9,500 missing in Minamisanriku; one thousand bodies had been recovered in the town by 14 March 2011. Among several factors causing the high death toll from the tsunami, one was the unexpectedly large size of the water surge. read more

Media caption The quake hit at 1446 local time (0546 GMT) and this is how the disaster unfolded. Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began has struck the north-east coast, triggering a massive tsunami. read more

- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issues a tsunami warning for the Pacific Ocean from Japan to the US About an hour after the quake, waves up to 30 feet high hit the Japanese coast, sweeping away vehicles, causing buildings to collapse, and severing roads and highways. read more

A 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) high tsunami hit Chiba Prefecture about 2½ hours after the quake, causing heavy damage to cities such as Asahi. On 13 March 2011, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) published details of tsunami observations recorded around the coastline of Japan following the earthquake. read more