Photos from March 11, 2011 (The Day of the Earthquake)

A regular city council meeting was taking place at the time of the earthquake. (Minamisoma City Hall, Assembly Hall)

Papers scattered in a medical facility office. (Haramachi, Omachi)

Merchandise fallen over and scattered inside a liquor store. (Haramachi, Minamimachi)

People unable to return home due to the earthquake causing the trains to stop. (JR Haranomachi)

Coastal section of the town destroyed by the tsunami. (Photo taken from the roof of the Minamisoma Police Station)

Houses and stores washed away by the tsunami and scattered in the road. (Haramachi, Kaibama)

A road torn to pieces, with the surrounding fields becoming small lakes. (Harmaachi, Takahira area)

Elementary and junior high schools in Minamisoma were converted into evacuation sites, with many people evacuating to them. (Haramachi Daiichi Elementary School gym)