In 2011, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, Onagawa had an earthquake intensity of six on the Japanese seven‐stage seismic scale. The town was struck by the tsunami 14.8m high above sea level, and the coastal areas were destroyed. About 3,900 buildings were damaged: This is about 90% of the houses in the town at that time. With a population of approximately 10,000 people, 574 people were dead and 253 people are still missing until today.