Historical tsunamis · Jun 10, 1938, 9:53 AM UTC
1938 Ryukyu Islands tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Jun 10, 1938, 9:53 AM UTC originated near Ryukyu Islands (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 10, 1938, 9:53 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.50 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.50 m.
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
1Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1 | 0.75 m Hirara, Miyakojima Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hirara, Miyakojima Island · Okinawa | 0.75 m | 60 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.