Historic Tsunami

1952 Japan Tsunami

4 March 1952 · Se. Hokkaido Island · Japan

On 4 March 1952 at 01:22 UTC, a tsunami formed near Se. Hokkaido Island, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. Waves reached up to 6.5 m high. It was observed at 219 locations in 10 countries or territories, up to 14,841 km from its source. It killed at least 33 people and injured 572.

Date

4 March 1952

Time

01:22 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.1

Highest Wave

6.5 m

Observation Sites

219

Furthest Reach

14,841 km

Deaths

33

Injuries

572

Homes Destroyed

2,422

Source Country

Japan

Triggering Earthquake

M 8.1, 1952

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 188Japan · 6.5 m
• 23United States of America · 0.3 m
• 1Peru · 0.3 m
• 1Palau · 0.2 m
• 1Ecuador · 0.1 m
• 1Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 0.1 m
• 1Federated States of Micronesia · 0.1 m
• 1Nicaragua · 0.1 m
• 1Costa Rica · 0.1 m
• 1Canada · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 6.5 mSenposhi · Japan · 118 km
• 6.5 mAkkeshi · Japan · 128 km
• 6.5 mSenhoshi · Japan · 392 km
• 5.0 mKonbumori · Japan · 105 km
• 3.9 mMonshizu · Japan · 126 km
• 3.8 mKombumori · Japan · 105 km
• 3.5 mHorinai · Japan · 287 km
• 3.3 mHidaka · Japan · 139 km
• 3.3 mAiboshima · Japan · 49 km
• 3.3 mKomonbetsu · Japan · 48 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 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
• 1968Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan · 6.0 m52 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