Historic Tsunami

1958 Russia Tsunami

6 November 1958 · South Kuril Islands · Russia

On 6 November 1958 at 22:58 UTC, a tsunami formed near South Kuril Islands, Russia. It was caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 5.0 m high. It was observed at 61 locations in 7 countries or territories, up to 13,457 km from its source.

Date

6 November 1958

Time

22:58 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.3

Highest Wave

5.0 m

Observation Sites

61

Furthest Reach

13,457 km

Source Country

Russia

Triggering Earthquake

1958 Kuril Islands Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 7Russia · 5.0 m
• 36Japan · 1.0 m
• 14United States of America · 0.3 m
• 1Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 0.1 m
• 1Peru · 0.1 m
• 1Canada · 0.1 m
• 1Australia

Highest Waves

• 5.0 mShikotan Island, Kurilskiye · Russia · 166 km
• 4.0 mUrup Island, Kurilskiye · Russia · 92 km
• 3.5 mMalokuril'Skaya Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 156 km
• 3.0 mIturup Island, Kurilskiye · Russia · 92 km
• 3.0 mBurevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Russia · 85 km
• 2.5 mYuzhno-Kuril'Sk, Kunashir Island · Russia · 221 km
• 2.5 mSernovodsk, Kunashir · Russia · 243 km
• 1.0 mBiwase · Japan · 323 km
• 0.8 mHanasaki · Japan · 276 km
• 0.8 mKiritappu · Japan · 318 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2008Hokkaido Island, Japan · 0.1 m6 deaths
• 2003Hokkaido Island, Japan · 4.4 m2 deaths
• 1994South Kuril Islands, Russia · 10.4 m11 deaths
• 1952Se. Hokkaido Island, Japan · 6.5 m33 deaths
• 1938East Hokkaido Island, Japan · 0.9 m1 deaths
• 1918South Kuril Islands, Russia · 12.0 m23 deaths

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