Historic Tsunami

1923 Russia Tsunami

13 April 1923 · Kamchatka · Russia

On 13 April 1923 at 15:31 UTC, a tsunami formed near Kamchatka, Russia. It was caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Waves reached up to 20.0 m high. It was observed at 10 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 6,472 km from its source. It killed at least 18 people.

Date

13 April 1923

Time

15:31 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.2

Highest Wave

20.0 m

Observation Sites

10

Furthest Reach

6,472 km

Deaths

18

Source Country

Russia

Triggering Earthquake

M 7.2, 1923

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 2Russia · 20.0 m18 deaths
• 5United States of America · 1.8 m
• 2Japan · 0.2 m
• 1Canada · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 20.0 mUst'Kamchatsk, Kamchatka · Russia · 29 km18 deaths
• 4.0 mBering Island, Commander Islands · Russia · 286 km
• 1.8 mLos Angeles, Ca · United States of America · 6,322 km
• 0.3 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 5,374 km
• 0.2 mHonolulu, Oahu, Hi · United States of America · 5,076 km
• 0.2 mAyukawa · Japan · 2,549 km
• 0.2 mSan Francisco, Ca · United States of America · 5,730 km
• 0.1 mSan Diego, Ca · United States of America · 6,472 km
• 0.1 mTofino (Clayoquot),british Columbia · Canada · 4,669 km
• 0.1 mHanasaki · Japan · 1,898 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2025Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia · 17.0 m1 deaths
• 1997Kamchatka, Russia · 8.0 m
• 1996Karymskoye, Kamchatka, Russia · 30.0 m
• 1969Kamchatka, Russia · 15.0 m
• 1952Kamchatka, Russia · 23.0 m10,000 deaths
• 1923Kamchatka, Russia · 8.0 m3 deaths

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth