Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Japan earthquake and tsunami

Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the Japan earthquake and tsunami which claimed the lives of over 15,000 people and injured many more.

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggered tsunami waves up to 40.5 metres high travelling at 700 kilometres per hour up to ten kilometres inland.

It was one of the biggest earthquakes and tsunami ever recorded and hit on the same day a Japanese USAR team left New Zealand after spending 20 days assisting us in Christchurch with our own earthquake.

We farewelled them in Latimer Square in the centre of Christchurch’s red zone on 11 March.

Our New Zealand USAR team of 45 people deployed to Japan three days later on 14 March 2011. Our USAR team worked for eight days alongside 100,000 Japanese Civil Defence personnel and other USAR teams in harsh conditions – including heavy snowfall for several days.

This was our first international USAR team deployment, and we are grateful that New Zealand could support Japan in their hour of need as they did for us after the Christchurch earthquake.