Historical tsunamis · Feb 3, 1923, 4:01 PM UTC
1923 Kamchatka tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Feb 3, 1923, 4:01 PM UTC originated near Kamchatka (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 3, 1923, 4:01 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.4
- Depth
- 15 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 8.00 m
- Deaths
- 3
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- US$ 1.5 million
- Observation records
- 20
- Countries affected
- 5
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake at a depth of 15 km.
The highest documented water height was 8.00 m (Kolygir Bay, Russia).
20 observation sites in 5 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Hososhima (Japan) after 1:52 h.
The database records 3 deaths.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at US$ 1.5 million.
Map of observation sites
20Each 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) · Feb 3, 1923, 4:01 PM UTC
- 1:52 hJapan · Hososhima · 0.20 m
- 6:00 hUnited States · Haleiwa, Oahu, Hi · 3.70 m
- 7:52 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.14 m
- 9:42 hSamoa · Apia, Upolu Island
12 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 6 | 8.00 m Kolygir Bay | 2 | — |
 United States | 8 | 6.10 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | 1 | 6:00 h |
 Japan | 4 | 0.50 m Kushimoto | — | 1:52 h |
 Canada | 1 | 0.14 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 7:52 h |
 Samoa | 1 | — | — | 9:42 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 20Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolygir Bay · Kamchatka | 8.00 m | 126 km | Russia |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 6.10 m | 5,373 km | United States |
| Semjachik, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | 6.00 m | 52 km | Russia |
| Haleiwa, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 3.70 m | 5,028 km | United States |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 3.50 m | 5,184 km | United States |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.90 m | 5,068 km | United States |
| Kushimoto · Wakayama | 0.50 m | 3,030 km | Japan |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.33 m | 2,301 km | Japan |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.23 m | 1,651 km | Japan |
| Hososhima · Miyazaki | 0.20 m | 3,337 km | Japan |
| San Diego, Ca · Ca | 0.20 m | 6,650 km | United States |
| Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · Bc | 0.14 m | 4,875 km | Canada |
| San Francisco, Ca · Ca | 0.10 m | 5,909 km | United States |
| Apia, Upolu Island | — | 8,012 km | Samoa |
| Avacha Bay, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | — | 213 km | Russia |
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.