Arahama before and after the tsunami hit

Photographs from Arahama beach on the Sendai coastal plain taken (A) before (April 11, 2010) and (B) after (May 4, 2011) the tsunami show damage to vegetation, landscape, and buildings. The buildings at far right and left were completely destroyed; all that remains are their foundations. The restroom building in the center survived the tsunami but underwent extreme scour and channeling around its base. The highest point of limb removal on the trees (trim line) shows the minimum water level of the tsunami in this area, which was measured as between 7 and 9 m (23 and 30 ft) above the ground (10-12 m [33-39 ft] above sea level).