Mariners who escaped the onslaught of the tsunami soon had to contend with another peril - the appearance of vast whirlpools off the coast of Japan.

　　刚刚逃过滚滚而来的巨大海啸浪涛的船员还来不及喘息，就又将面对另一处险象环生的挑战——在日本近海岸线上出现的巨大漩涡。

　　The powerful vortices appeared yesterday morning when the oceans, swollen by the vast surge of water, began to recede.

　　在广大淹水地区出现“退水”的情况下，出现威力强劲的大漩涡。

　 As the water levels fell, whirlpools hundreds of yards wide appeared, sucking everything into the themselves and creating new danger for passing boats.

　　随着水位的下降，漩涡的范围扩张到几十码的区域，它毫不留情滴将周围的所有一切都吸入其内，这又给过往的船只造成了新的危险。

　　Whirlpools are created by rising and falling water - and are a common feature of tsunamis. But they are rarely as spectacular - or as well photographed.

　　漩涡是由于水涨水退的变化而引起的，是海啸所常常伴随的现象，但拍摄到如此大规模的海啸，的确实属少见。

　　Dr Simon Boxhall, of the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, said: 'It's exactly the same thing that happens when you take a plug out of a bath or sink.

　　来自南安普敦国家海洋学中心的西蒙·博克斯霍尔教授说，“这样情况就如同与你将蓄满时的鱼缸或水槽的塞子拔掉一样。”