World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1993
Historic Tsunami
1993 Japan Tsunami
12 July 1993 · Sea of Japan · Japan
On 12 July 1993 at 13:17 UTC, a tsunami formed near Sea of Japan, Japan. It was caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 32.0 m high. It was observed at 196 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 1,323 km from its source. It killed at least 231 people and injured 233. It is the 39th highest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 12 July 1993
- Time
- 13:17 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.7
- Highest Wave
- 32.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 196
- Furthest Reach
- 1,323 km
- Deaths
- 231
- Injuries
- 233
- Homes Destroyed
- 2,374
- Estimated Damage
- 1.2 billion US dollars
- Source Country
- Japan
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1993 Okushiri Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 136Japan · 32.0 m181 deaths
- 21Russia · 6.0 m3 deaths
- 38South Korea · 2.8 m
- 1North Korea · 2.1 m
Highest Waves
- 32.0 mOkushiri, Okushiri Island · Japan · 80 km
- 30.6 mMonai, Okushiri Island · Japan · 85 km10 deaths
- 19.0 mHamatsumae · Japan · 90 km32 deaths
- 15.3 mMueniwa-Campsite, Okushiri Island · Japan · 83 km
- 11.4 mSouth of Monai, Okushiri Island · Japan · 88 km
- 10.0 mHokkaido · Japan · 333 km
- 9.4 mSouth of Monai, Okushiri Island · Japan · 87 km
- 9.0 mOta Bay · Japan · 80 km
- 8.5 mHarauta · Japan · 67 km
- 8.5 mSetana · Japan · 70 km4 deaths
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 1983Noshiro, Japan · 14.9 m104 deaths
- 1982Hokkaido Island, Japan · 1.3 m110 deaths
- 1968Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan · 6.0 m52 deaths
- 1964Nw. Honshu Island, Japan · 5.8 m36 deaths
- 1952Se. Hokkaido Island, Japan · 6.5 m33 deaths
- 1939Nw. Honshu Island, Japan · 1.2 m27 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth