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In 1755, Lisbon, Portugal was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 20,000 people. This tsunami in particular produced a disastrous earthquake, with a magnitude of 9, that caused a fire. The waves of the tsunami amplified the heights of seven meters. This picture depicts the distruction in Lisbon, Portugal on the day of the disaster.
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In 1883, Java/Sumatra was hit with a devastating volcanic eruption. The eruption caused the top of the volcano to collapse in the ocean. The collapse produced a deadly tsunami that destroyed 165 villages and killed more than 36,000 people. This picture depicts the eruption of Krakatoa on the day of the disaster.
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In 1946, Alaska was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 160 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 8.1. A wave estimated at nearly 100 feet high crashed onto the shore, destroying a lighthouse located 30 feet above sea level, where five people lived, all five were killed instantly. The wave headed toward the southern Pacific at 500 miles per hour. In the picture people are seen fleeing the great tsunami wave behind them.
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The Great Chilean earthquake, was a 9.5 magnitude earthquake. The tremor triggered a giant tsunami which caused destruction and deaths as far away as Japan, around a day later. The disaster killed about 61 people. The earthquake hit at about 7 in the evening, 100 miles off the coast, parallel to the city of Valdivia. The picture shown, displays the destruction of the city after the great tsunami and quake.
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In 1964, Alaska was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 130 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 9.2, making it the second most powerful quake recorded. The earthquake lasted approximately 4.5 minutes. In the picture a photographer overlooks wreckage as smoke rises from burning oil storage tanks in Valdez, Alaska, two days after the disaster.
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In 1993, Japan was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 120 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 7.8. The quake caused a back-arc tsunami that caused damage in all of the countries bordering the Sea of Japan. The tsunami was 32 meters high on Okishuri, Island, where the most destruction occurred. The whole island subsided by 5-80 centimeters. The picture shows the rebuilding of the island after the quake and tsunami hit.
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In 1998, Papua, New Guinea, was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed more than 21,000 people, and left 6,000 homeless. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 7.1. The quake triggered a submarine landslide that produced the tsunami. In the picture, a lower floor of a two story Sissano Mission School collapsed from a disastrous tsunami wave.
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In 2004, Indonesia was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 230,000 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 9.1. The quake happened a minute before eight in the morning, striking in the north. The quake lasted about 10 minutes. This picture shows before and after the destruction.
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In 2009, the Samoan islands, were hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 200 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 8.1. Eyewitnesses reported three to seven tsunami waves; the largest were higher than 5 m. The picture shows debris in the parking lot of Pago Plaza.
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In 2010, Chile was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed about 700 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 8.8. The quake struck at 3.34 in the morning.The initial event was succeeded in the following weeks by hundreds of aftershocks, many of them of magnitude 5.0 or greater. The picture shows boats that were run aground by the 7.7 foot tsunami.
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In 2011, Japan was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed over 20,000 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 9.1, that lasted 6 minutes.The initial quake was followed by 5000 aftershocks, the largest reaching a magnitude of 7.9.The picture shows Tohoku earthquake and tsunami damage.
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This year, Indonesia was hit with a devastating tsunami. The tsunami killed at least 1,234 people. This tsunami was accompanied by a disastrous earthquake that had a magnitude of 7.5, that began at 7 in the morning.The quake was followed by 20 foot waves. The picture shows a rescue team.
