World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1994
Historic Tsunami
1994 Russia Tsunami
4 October 1994 · South Kuril Islands · Russia
On 4 October 1994 at 13:22 UTC, a tsunami formed near South Kuril Islands, Russia. It was caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 10.4 m high. It was observed at 119 locations in 7 countries or territories, up to 16,529 km from its source. It killed at least 11 people and injured 382.
- Date
- 4 October 1994
- Time
- 13:22 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.3
- Highest Wave
- 10.4 m
- Observation Sites
- 119
- Furthest Reach
- 16,529 km
- Deaths
- 11
- Injuries
- 382
- Homes Destroyed
- 2
- Source Country
- Russia
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1994 Kuril Islands Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 30Russia · 10.4 m
- 52Japan · 1.7 m
- 28United States of America · 0.5 m
- 2Chile · 0.4 m
- 1Vanuatu · 0.2 m
- 1French Polynesia · 0.2 m
- 5Canada · 0.1 m
Highest Waves
- 10.4 mS. Dimitrova Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 40 km
- 8.5 mC.Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 51 km
- 8.2 mN. Dimitrova Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 40 km
- 8.1 mAgatova Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 48 km
- 8.0 mShezhkova Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 44 km
- 7.2 mE.Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan · Russia · 49 km
- 6.4 mIlyushina River, Kunashir · Russia · 118 km
- 6.0 mKray Sveta Cape, Shikotan · Russia · 34 km
- 5.3 mPetrova Point, Kunashir Island · Russia · 123 km
- 4.7 mKrugloe Lake, Kunashir · Russia · 99 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2008Hokkaido Island, Japan · 0.1 m6 deaths
- 1994Tohuku, Japan · 0.5 m3 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