Costas Synolakis says Japan's concrete sea walls were not built to handle such high waves.

VOA: special.2011.03.21

The waves rose too high. The waves with their white tops pushed at the open boat with angry violence.

VOA: special.2010.03.06

He faced winds blowing more than one hundred twenty kilometers an hour, and ocean waves at least twenty meters high.

VOA: special.2009.03.22

The Anderson reported winds of about one hundred forty kilometers an hour and waves ten meters high.

VOA: special.2009.11.11

In coastal areas it can swell,or enlarge, to waves of up to thirty meters high.

VOA: special.2009.03.17

The early November winds reached hurricane force and caused waves eleven meters high.

VOA: special.2009.11.11

In Thailand, some waves were as high as many buildings.

VOA: special.2009.03.17