World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1968
Historic Tsunami
1968 Japan Tsunami
16 May 1968 · Off East Coast of Honshu Island · Japan
On 16 May 1968 at 00:48 UTC, a tsunami formed off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. Waves reached up to 6.0 m high. It was observed at 330 locations in 7 countries or territories, up to 10,909 km from its source. It killed at least 52 people and injured 330.
- Date
- 16 May 1968
- Time
- 00:48 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.2
- Highest Wave
- 6.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 330
- Furthest Reach
- 10,909 km
- Deaths
- 52
- Injuries
- 330
- Homes Destroyed
- 1,218
- Estimated Damage
- 131 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Japan
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1968 Tokachi Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 289Japan · 6.0 m
- 28United States of America · 0.6 m
- 4Russia · 0.5 m
- 5Mexico · 0.4 m
- 2Canada · 0.1 m
- 1Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 0.1 m
- 1Federated States of Micronesia · 0.1 m
Highest Waves
- 6.0 mSamenoura Bay · Japan · 307 km
- 5.7 mMukawame · Japan · 151 km
- 5.7 mMuronohama · Japan · 196 km
- 5.3 mAkamae · Japan · 171 km
- 5.3 mKoborinai · Japan · 171 km
- 5.3 mNamiita · Japan · 191 km
- 5.1 mKitanuma · Japan · 146 km
- 5.1 mShiogama · Japan · 152 km
- 5.0 mSanriku Coast · Japan · 193 km
- 5.0 mKawaguchi · Japan · 148 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
- 1933Sanriku, Japan · 29.0 m3,022 deaths
- 1905Japan: Off Fukushima, Japan57 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth