World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1978
Historic Tsunami
1978 Japan Tsunami
12 June 1978 · Sanriku · Japan
On 12 June 1978 at 08:14 UTC, a tsunami formed near Sanriku, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.6 m high. It was observed at 31 locations, up to 639 km from its source. It killed at least 28 people and injured 1,000.
- Date
- 12 June 1978
- Time
- 08:14 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.7
- Highest Wave
- 0.6 m
- Observation Sites
- 31
- Furthest Reach
- 639 km
- Deaths
- 28
- Injuries
- 1,000
- Estimated Damage
- 865 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Japan
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1978 Miyagi Earthquake
Highest Waves
- 0.6 mKesennumagyoko · Japan · 87 km
- 0.6 mOnagawa · Japan · 57 km
- 0.4 mTsukihama · Japan · 66 km
- 0.3 mSendaishinko · Japan · 88 km
- 0.3 mShirahama · Japan · 65 km
- 0.3 mHachinohe (Kensetsukyoku) · Japan · 262 km
- 0.2 mKamaishi · Japan · 120 km
- 0.2 mOfunato · Japan · 95 km
- 0.2 mIshinomaki · Japan · 71 km
- 0.2 mHachinohe · Japan · 264 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2024Honshu: W Coast, Japan · 11.3 m549 deaths
- 2011Honshu Island, Japan · 39.3 m18,423 deaths
- 1983Noshiro, Japan · 14.9 m104 deaths
- 1982Hokkaido Island, Japan · 1.3 m110 deaths
- 1933Sanriku, Japan · 29.0 m3,022 deaths
- 1923Sagami Bay, Japan · 13.0 m105,385 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth