Historical tsunamis · Jun 15, 1896, 10:33 AM UTC
1896 Sanriku tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Jun 15, 1896, 10:33 AM UTC originated near Sanriku (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 15, 1896, 10:33 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.3
- Maximum documented water height
- 38.2 m
- Deaths
- 27,122
- Injuries
- 13,247
- Houses destroyed
- 11,000
- Damage
- extreme (over US$ 25 million)
- Observation records
- 72
- Countries affected
- 6
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 38.2 m (Shirahama, Japan).
72 observation sites in 6 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Kilauea Landing, Kauai, Hi (United States) after 7:27 h.
The database records 27,122 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 11,000.
Damage is estimated at extreme (over US$ 25 million).
Map of observation sites
72Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin)
- 0:18 hJapan · Miyako
- 7:27 hUnited States · Kilauea Landing, Kauai, Hi · 1.50 m
9 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 46 | 38.2 m Shirahama | 18,802 | 0:18 h |
 United States | 21 | 5.50 m Keauhou, Hawaii, Hi | — | 7:27 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | 4.50 m Laysan Island | — | — |
 Cook Islands | 1 | 3.00 m Rarotonga | — | — |
 Samoa | 1 | 1.70 m Savaii Island | — | — |
 Canada | 2 | 1.50 m Kyuquot, Vancouver Island, Bc | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 72Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirahama · Iwate | 38.20 m | 174 km | Japan |
| Ryori · Iwate | 30.00 m | 191 km | Japan |
| Yoshihama · Iwate | 26.10 m | 191 km | Japan |
| Aneyoshi · Iwate | 18.90 m | 168 km | Japan |
| Kojirohama · Iwate | 17.40 m | 186 km | Japan |
| Taro · Iwate | 14.60 m | 177 km | Japan |
| Kamaishi · Iwate | 8.20 m | 184 km | Japan |
| Kofunato · Aomori | 6.00 m | 224 km | Japan |
| Keauhou, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 5.50 m | 6,104 km | United States |
| Kaawaloa, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 5.30 m | 6,112 km | United States |
| Napoopoo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 5.30 m | 6,113 km | United States |
| Kona, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 5.00 m | 6,088 km | United States |
| Kogosi · Hokkaido | 4.50 m | 277 km | Japan |
| Laysan Island · Hi | 4.50 m | 4,374 km | USA Territory |
| Utabetsu · Hokkaido | 4.50 m | 285 km | Japan |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.