World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1939
Historic Tsunami
1939 Japan Tsunami
1 May 1939 · Nw. Honshu Island · Japan
On 1 May 1939 at 05:58 UTC, a tsunami formed near Nw. Honshu Island, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. Waves reached up to 1.2 m high. It was observed at 25 locations, up to 618 km from its source. It killed at least 27 people and injured 52.
- Date
- 1 May 1939
- Time
- 05:58 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.0
- Highest Wave
- 1.2 m
- Observation Sites
- 25
- Furthest Reach
- 618 km
- Deaths
- 27
- Injuries
- 52
- Homes Destroyed
- 479
- Source Country
- Japan
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1939 Oga Earthquake
Highest Waves
- 1.2 mTsubaki · Japan · 53 km
- 0.9 mYushiri · Japan · 26 km
- 0.1 mTsuchizakiko · Japan · 63 km
- 0.1 mSakata · Japan · 134 km
- 0.0 mNoshiroko · Japan · 45 km
- 0.0 mAjigasawa · Japan · 97 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2024Honshu: W Coast, Japan · 11.3 m549 deaths
- 2011Honshu Island, Japan · 39.3 m18,423 deaths
- 1993Sea of Japan, Japan · 32.0 m231 deaths
- 1983Noshiro, Japan · 14.9 m104 deaths
- 1982Hokkaido Island, Japan · 1.3 m110 deaths
- 1933Sanriku, Japan · 29.0 m3,022 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth