Historical tsunamis · Mar 2, 1933, 5:31 PM UTC
1933 Sanriku tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Mar 2, 1933, 5:31 PM UTC originated near Sanriku (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 2, 1933, 5:31 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.4
- Depth
- 15 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 29.0 m
- Deaths
- 3,022
- Houses destroyed
- 6,000
- Damage
- extreme (over US$ 25 million)
- Observation records
- 293
- Countries affected
- 8
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake at a depth of 15 km.
The highest documented water height was 29.0 m (Iwate Coast, Japan).
293 observation sites in 8 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Nevelsk, Sakhalin (Russia) after 4:00 h.
The database records 3,022 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 6,000.
Damage is estimated at extreme (over US$ 25 million).
Map of observation sites
293Each 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) · Mar 2, 1933, 5:31 PM UTC
- 0:36 hJapan · Hachinohe · 3.00 m
- 4:00 hRussia · Nevelsk, Sakhalin
- 4:30 hUSA Territory · Midway Islands
- 7:39 hUnited States · Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · 0.30 m
- 9:41 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.12 m
- 22:00 hChile · Iquique · 0.40 m
- 54:00 hAustralia · Sydney
19 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 269 | 29.0 m Iwate Coast | 3,022 | 0:36 h |
 United States | 18 | 3.30 m Kaalualu, Hawaii, Hi | — | 7:39 h |
 Chile | 1 | 0.40 m Iquique | — | 22:00 h |
 Canada | 1 | 0.12 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 9:41 h |
 Samoa | 1 | — | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | 4:30 h |
 Russia | 1 | — | — | 4:00 h |
 Australia | 1 | — | — | 54:00 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 293Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iwate Coast · Iwate | 29.00 m | 226 km | Japan |
| N. Rikuzen · Iwate | 23.00 m | 246 km | Japan |
| Shirahama (Sanrikucho) · Iwate | 23.00 m | 240 km | Japan |
| Miyagi Coast · Miyagi | 21.00 m | 328 km | Japan |
| Hirota · Iwate | 19.50 m | 252 km | Japan |
| Akedo · Iwate | 16.90 m | 240 km | Japan |
| Chikei-Kitagawa · Iwate | 13.60 m | 223 km | Japan |
| Omoto · Iwate | 13.00 m | 235 km | Japan |
| Otanabe · Iwate | 13.00 m | 246 km | Japan |
| Raga · Iwate | 13.00 m | 241 km | Japan |
| Rikuchu (N.) · Iwate | 13.00 m | 247 km | Japan |
| Kakehama · Miyagi | 12.60 m | 256 km | Japan |
| Sasahama · Miyagi | 12.60 m | 256 km | Japan |
| Aneyoshi · Iwate | 12.40 m | 222 km | Japan |
| Ishihama (Miyako) · Iwate | 12.00 m | 223 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.