japan, news agencies and the internet are inundated with video accounts from bystanders on the ground who catch the wave's destruction on camera. >> we're actually seeing that moment of contact. this just terrible moment. the first wave of that ripple effect, what we call a tsunami. and that energy just climaxes and just pushes forward. >> starts -- just looks like high tide except it just keeps on coming. it just goes and goes and goes. >> a camera at the deserted sendai airport soundlessly captures the water creeping over the tarmac. >> imagine yourself, you're sitting there and you're looking out the window and your plane