Krakatoa: The Last Days, Clip 4 - The Wave (HD)

Full Screen Version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUlE4qO1veg

From the BBC docu-drama, "Krakatoa: The Last Days." The movie is also known as "Krakatoa: Volcano of Destruction" and aired on Discovery Channel. The movie brings to life the journals and recollections of four witnesses who survived the cataclysmic eruption of Krakatoa in August of 1883.

Captain Lindeman had been fighting the ash fall that threatened to capsize his ship. Meanwhile the collapse of Rakata Island had created mammoth sea waves which were radiating out from Krakatoa's epicenter and had already wiped out Sebesi Island northeast of Krakatoa. The Loudon, anchored at Lampong Bay near the village of Telok Betong, north of Krakatoa, was about to encounter one such giant wave.

A passenger, N.H. van Sandick, on the Loudon gives an account:

"Suddenly, at about 7 a.m., a tremendous wave came moving in from the sea, which literally blocked the view and moved with tremendous speed. The Loudon steamed forward in such a way that she headed right into the wave. One moment... the wave had reached us. The ship made a tremendous tumbling; however, the wave was passed and the Loudon was saved. The wave now reached Telok Betong and raced inland. Three more similar colossal waves followed, which destroyed all of Telok Betong right before our eyes. The light tower could be seen to tumble; the houses disappeared; the steamer Berouw was lifted and got stuck, apparently at the height of the cocoanut trees; and everything had become sea in front of our eyes, where a few minutes ago Telok Betong beach had been. The impressiveness of this spectacle is difficult to describe. The unexpectedness of what is seen and the tremendous dimensions of destruction, in front of one's eyes make it difficult to describe what has been viewed. The best comparison is a sudden change of scenery, which in fairy tales occurs by a fairy's magic wand, but on a colossal scale and with the conscious knowledge that it is reality, and that thousands of people have perished in an indivisible moment, that destruction without its equal has been wrought, and that the observer is in threatening danger of life. Taking all these things together the impression caused by such a natural scene can possibly be described, but it stops short of reality..."

Read the official report made by Captain Lindeman and the less constrained complete account by N.H. van Sandick:

The Eruption of Krakatoa:
http://www.vansandick.com/familie/links/vulcaan2.php

If you want to see the full docudrama, you can catch it on Discovery Channel, rent it, or buy the DVD at Amazon.co.uk:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Krakatoa-Last-Days-Rupert-Penry-Jones/dp/B000FTJ79G/r...

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• Krakatoa
• The
• Last
• Days
• Volcano
• Of
• Destruction
• 1883
• Discovery
• Channel
• Wave
• Tsunami
• Captain
• Lindeman
• yt:quality=high

[doggirl1123]

is it true that this tsunami went around the world 7 times?

[MelodyOfVision]

@doggirl1123 - The shockwave created by the last and most violent explosion from Krakatoa traveled around the world seven times. It also created the loudest sound heard as far as 3,000 miles away. See Krakatoa: The Last Days, Clip 3 - Loudest Sound: watch?v=nPqOQVX1pXE or in HD: watch?v=OJ1JPxgYuJM. Thanks for asking!

[niflap]

Were any ships lost at sea by the tsunami? Generally, they start out low & fast in deep water & pass under a ship unnoticed, & only convert speed to height when they reach the shallows of the coast.

[MelodyOfVision]

@niflap - the origin of most tsunami are from hundreds or thousands of miles away and under the sea. But the origin of the tsunami that struck the ships in the Sunda Strait was Krakatoa itself - *right* there within a few miles only and displacement of water caused by its destruction just under or at sea level - so of course the waves would be of a mammoth size and yes, many ships were lost.

[mrhowie1]

The haunting music makes this scene feel large while the seizing words from the young, courageous female passenger, "Quiet! Listen to him" and the respectful disobedience of the 1st officer, "No sir, I'm staying here" make the scene intimate. This contrast creates some great tension.

[MelodyOfVision]

Excellent comment, mrhowie1.

This is why this is my most favorite scene with my most favorite and noble characters, especially the captain, in the entire movie. And the music where angels seems to be singing to help the captain steer the ship over the peak of the wave - *sigh* How many times have I already mentioned that I love this scene...?

[Nobodywantsme]

Woah. That captain doesn't have balls. He has FREAKING COCONUTS.

[mrhowie1]

Poor captain ... he has to deal with superstitious deckhands, antagonistic passengers, an insubordinate first officer, and a very angry sea. To his credit, he handles all with aplomb.

[hermitcrabbot]

What's Indonesian for 'Aieeeeee!!!'?

[CancermanNIGHTMARE]

@NiggaBoy7thst

I've heard estimates as high as 40 meters. 

[TheBrassSectionRocks]

captain badass

[NiggaBoy7thst]

Any accurate estimates to how high this tsunami would have been?

[atidchantique]

it is,, i'm from indonesia and we learn about this in our class

[nadigo]

there was something on krakatoa that God and the Devil themselves did not wanted us to see

[NiteOwl1224]

Could u imagine if anything like that happend now, how many people around the world would be killed? Man, that pilot is a hero!!!

[DeadlyHarvest1]

So..there are some good people in the world...

[TheCrazietown]

tht capitain has a insane look on his face

[wbnc66]

Okay after that if he had told his crew he was sailing into hell the response would have been." Aye Captain!"