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       October 26, 2011

　

(CNN Student News) -- October 26, 2011 Debris Threat AZUZ: Parts of Japan are still recovering from a deadly quake that hit the nation back in March. It had a magnitude of 9.0. That was the largest ever recorded in the country and the earthquake launched a tsunami, a giant ocean wave. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AZUZ (voice-over): The waves from that tsunami made it all the way across the Pacific Ocean, crashing the shores of Hawaii and even California. And as Errol Barnett explains, there`s more earthquake aftermath heading across the Pacific. ERROL BARNETT, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): This was the scene after a 9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck Japan back in March. The scope of the tragedy was horrific. More than 15,000 lives lost, entire coastal villages and towns washed away. While a vast amount of debris bashed boats, the contents of homes, people`s belongings, almost everything was swept into the sea. And now all of that flotsam, about 20 tons` worth, is slowly making its way across the Pacific Ocean. Researchers for the International Pacific Research Center say some of the lighter debris is moving faster than expected. They predict it will reach the Midway Islands by this winter, and arrive in Hawaii in less than two years. This animation shows the vast debris field moving across the Pacific. Crew members aboard a Russian ship spotted the junk about 3,000 kilometers from Japan. Some of the trash included a fishing boat. Researchers say it`s important to know where the stuff is heading, because it could threaten small ships as well as coastlines. Meanwhile, in Japan, the rebuilding continues as the country deals with the disaster`s aftermath. Tourism has been down since the quake and tsunami, prompting the country`s tourist board to give away 10,000 free flights -- Errol Barnett, CNN. (END VIDEO CLIP)