The massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake on March 11, 2011 triggered a tsunami that struck the east coast, devastating much of the Tohoku area in Japan. Fifteen thousand people are confirmed dead with more than nine thousand still missing.Libraries in the region were also devastated in the region. The Minami-Sanriku Town Library disappeared without a trace. The chief librarian was killed. Rikuzen-Takata City suffered catastrophic damage from the tsunami. Most of the city area is covered with piles of rubble. All library staff members were killed or are still missing.