Historic Tsunami

1969 Russia Tsunami

11 August 1969 · South Kuril Islands · Russia

On 11 August 1969 at 21:26 UTC, a tsunami formed near South Kuril Islands, Russia. It was caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake. Waves reached up to 5.0 m high. It was observed at 75 locations in 6 countries or territories, up to 14,473 km from its source.

Date

11 August 1969

Time

21:26 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.2

Highest Wave

5.0 m

Observation Sites

75

Furthest Reach

14,473 km

Source Country

Russia

Triggering Earthquake

1969 Kuril Islands Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 15Russia · 5.0 m
• 47Japan · 1.3 m
• 9United States of America · 0.2 m
• 1Peru · 0.1 m
• 2Canada · 0.1 m
• 1Ecuador

Highest Waves

• 5.0 mTserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan Island · Russia · 99 km
• 4.0 mDimitrova Bay, Shikotan Island · Russia · 91 km
• 2.0 mZelyenyi Is. · Russia · 143 km
• 1.5 mPolonsky Is. · Russia · 125 km
• 1.3 mNemuroko · Japan · 190 km
• 1.3 mHanasaki · Japan · 192 km
• 1.1 mYuzhno-Kuril'Sk, Kunashir Island · Russia · 171 km
• 1.0 mBurevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Russia · 149 km
• 1.0 mMalokuril'Skaya Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 92 km
• 1.0 mKrabozavodsk, Shikotan Island · Russia · 98 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2008Hokkaido Island, Japan · 0.1 m6 deaths
• 1994South Kuril Islands, Russia · 10.4 m11 deaths
• 1982Hokkaido Island, Japan · 1.3 m110 deaths
• 1968Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan · 6.0 m52 deaths
• 1952Se. Hokkaido Island, Japan · 6.5 m33 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