Japanese home floating in the Pacific

[Jenn]

Comment: A Japanese home is seen adrift in the Pacific Ocean on March 13,
2011, following the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami.

[Don Enrico]

I've seen the picture (or a clip?) in a newsfeed on the tsunami, but I can#t remember where or when.

I vote real, though.


ETA: It's a Reuters picture that has been published (among others) by the Daily Mail (scroll down).

[jw]

Why would it not sink?

[Dr. Winston O'Boogie]

Wood floats. Many other construction materials (I'm thinking insulators here) are buoyant. I guess the heavier items (shingles, etc.) aren't enough to weigh it down.

[JoeBentley]

It's not that unreasonable. We routinely see whole houses swept up in floods much smaller then those caused by a major tsunami. As Winston notes most materials used in house construction, especially in an earthquake prone country like Japan, are fairly lightweight such as wood, fiberboard, etc and given the shape the house is in there would probably be some pretty large air pockets still trapped in the structure to add buoyancy.

ETA: Accurate. The photo was taken by MC3 Dylan McCord, a Navy Photographer aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. The whole picture even shows the edges of the helicopter door he was taking the picture from.

http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=98411

110313-N-SB672-164 PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2011) A Japanese home is seen adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are searching for survivors in the coastal waters near Sendai, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord/Released)

High resolution (Large file): http://www.navy.mil/management/photo...-SB672-164.jpg

[Nonny Mouse]

It's a testament to how well-built the house is that it's floating around looking that intact after being walloped by an extra-large tsunami.

Nonny

[DrRocket]

I suppose if there's more than a few of these out there, they'll have to sink them so they're not a hazard to navigation.

[crescent]

I'm a bit surprised that there have not been more photos of floating things that the tsunami washed out to sea.

I suppose most of those sort of photos would have been taken by military or other government people, who might not be allowed to freely distribute photos taken while on the job. Such agencies would probably also limit the release of thier own photos somewhat, for a variety of reasons.