On March 11th, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan followed by a massive tsunami that devastated much of the country. Through an assortment of on-the-ground videos, we retell the story of the earthquake, the subsequent tsunami, and the aftermath of both disasters through video.

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan

Skyscrapers sway in Tokyo:

The ground splits and ruptures during the earthquake:

The massive tsunami wave approaches after the earthquake

A ship at sea has an early encounter with the massive wave:

When the tsunami hits

A local news crew scrambles to avoid the tsunami:

While others watch on helplessly…