World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1918
Historic Tsunami
1918 Russia Tsunami
7 September 1918 · South Kuril Islands · Russia
On 7 September 1918 at 17:16 UTC, a tsunami formed near South Kuril Islands, Russia. It was caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. Waves reached up to 12.0 m high. It was observed at 22 locations in 5 countries or territories, up to 7,538 km from its source. It killed at least 23 people and injured 7.
- Date
- 7 September 1918
- Time
- 17:16 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.2
- Highest Wave
- 12.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 22
- Furthest Reach
- 7,538 km
- Deaths
- 23
- Injuries
- 7
- Source Country
- Russia
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1918 Kuril Islands Earthquake and Tsunami
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 6Russia · 12.0 m23 deaths
- 10Japan · 3.0 m
- 4United States of America · 1.5 m
- 1Samoa · 0.2 m
- 1Canada · 0.1 m
Highest Waves
- 12.0 mOpasnaia Bay, Urup I, Kurilskiye · Russia · 116 km23 deaths
- 3.0 mFutami Bay, Chichijima Island · Japan · 2,203 km
- 1.5 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 5,640 km
- 1.5 mChernye, Urup I, Kurilskiye · Russia · 124 km
- 1.1 mHanasaki · Japan · 533 km
- 1.0 mNemuroko · Japan · 528 km
- 0.6 mHanasaki · Japan · 533 km
- 0.5 mChoshi · Japan · 1,405 km
- 0.5 mHakodate · Japan · 961 km
- 0.5 mAyukawa · Japan · 1,151 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2006South Kuril Islands, Russia · 21.9 m
- 1994South Kuril Islands, Russia · 10.4 m11 deaths
- 1975South Kuril Islands, Russia · 5.5 m
- 1963South Kuril Islands, Russia · 15.0 m
- 1958South Kuril Islands, Russia · 5.0 m
- 1933Kharimkotan, North Kuril Islands, Russia · 9.0 m2 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth