World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1923
Historic Tsunami
1923 Japan Tsunami
1 September 1923 · Sagami Bay · Japan
On 1 September 1923 at 02:58 UTC, a tsunami formed near Sagami Bay, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. Waves reached up to 13.0 m high. It was observed at 142 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 9,195 km from its source. It killed at least 105,385 people and injured 52,074. It is the 3rd deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 1 September 1923
- Time
- 02:58 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.9
- Highest Wave
- 13.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 142
- Furthest Reach
- 9,195 km
- Deaths
- 105,385
- Injuries
- 52,074
- Homes Destroyed
- 695,000
- Estimated Damage
- 600 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Japan
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 139Japan · 13.0 m344 deaths
- 1New Zealand · 0.1 m
- 1Canada
- 1United States of America
Highest Waves
- 13.0 mOshima Island · Japan · 40 km
- 12.0 mOkada · Japan · 37 km14 deaths
- 12.0 mDjogashima Island · Japan · 11 km
- 10.3 mAinohama · Japan · 35 km
- 9.0 mAtami · Japan · 39 km60 deaths
- 9.0 mIto (Itoshi) · Japan · 39 km
- 9.0 mKusumi · Japan · 38 km
- 9.0 mNorth Coast Sagami Bay · Japan · 28 km
- 8.1 mSunosaki · Japan · 28 km
- 7.5 mUsami · Japan · 40 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2011Honshu Island, Japan · 39.3 m18,423 deaths
- 1995Kobe, Japan · 0.3 m6,434 deaths
- 1946Honshu: S Coast, Japan · 6.6 m1,362 deaths
- 1945Tokaido, Japan · 1.0 m2,306 deaths
- 1944Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan · 10.0 m1,223 deaths
- 1927Sw. Honshu Island, Japan · 11.3 m3,022 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth