World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1938
Historic Tsunami
1938 Japan Tsunami
5 November 1938 · Sanriku · Japan
On 5 November 1938 at 08:43 UTC, a tsunami formed near Sanriku, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.6 m high. It was observed at 17 locations, up to 691 km from its source. It killed at least 1 person.
- Date
- 5 November 1938
- Time
- 08:43 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.7
- Highest Wave
- 0.6 m
- Observation Sites
- 17
- Furthest Reach
- 691 km
- Deaths
- 1
- Homes Destroyed
- 20
- Source Country
- Japan
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1938 Fukushima Earthquakes
Highest Waves
- 0.6 mHanabuchi (Shiogama) · Japan · 142 km
- 0.5 mOnahama · Japan · 74 km
- 0.5 mAyukawa · Japan · 134 km
- 0.4 mIwai (Oarai) · Japan · 131 km
- 0.3 mTsukihama · Japan · 164 km
- 0.2 mTanaka (Nakaminato) · Japan · 131 km
- 0.2 mMiyako · Japan · 284 km
- 0.2 mOshima (Shiogamako) · Japan · 147 km
- 0.2 mShiogama · Japan · 147 km
- 0.2 mIshinomaki · Japan · 151 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2024Honshu: W Coast, Japan · 11.3 m549 deaths
- 2011Honshu Island, Japan · 39.3 m18,423 deaths
- 1983Noshiro, Japan · 14.9 m104 deaths
- 1945Tokaido, Japan · 1.0 m2,306 deaths
- 1933Sanriku, Japan · 29.0 m3,022 deaths
- 1923Sagami Bay, Japan · 13.0 m105,385 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth