Historical tsunamis · Mar 4, 1952, 1:22 AM UTC
1952 SE. Hokkaido Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Mar 4, 1952, 1:22 AM UTC originated near SE. Hokkaido Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 4, 1952, 1:22 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.1
- Depth
- 45 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 6.54 m
- Deaths
- 33
- Injuries
- 572
- Houses destroyed
- 2,422
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 204
- Countries affected
- 11
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake at a depth of 45 km.
The highest documented water height was 6.54 m (Senposhi, Japan).
204 observation sites in 11 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Hilo, Hawaii, Hi (United States) after 7:42 h.
The database records 33 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 2,422.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
204Each 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 4, 1952, 1:22 AM UTC
- 0:05 hJapan · Komonbetsu · 3.25 m
- 7:42 hUnited States · Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · 0.10 m
- 10:27 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.06 m
- 17:38 hCosta Rica · Puntarenas · 0.09 m
93 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 173 | 6.54 m Senposhi | — | 0:05 h |
 United States | 20 | 0.30 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | 7:42 h |
 Peru | 1 | 0.30 m Callao la Punta | — | — |
 Palau | 1 | 0.20 m Angaur Island | — | — |
| USA Territory | 3 | 0.10 m Apra Harbor, Guam | — | — |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 1 | 0.10 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | — |
 Ecuador | 1 | 0.10 m La Libertad | — | — |
 Nicaragua | 1 | 0.10 m San Juan del Sur | — | — |
| Micronesia, Fed. States Of | 1 | 0.10 m Yap Island, Caroline Islands | — | — |
 Costa Rica | 1 | 0.09 m Puntarenas | — | 17:38 h |
 Canada | 1 | 0.06 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 10:27 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 204Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senposhi · Hokkaido | 6.54 m | 118 km | Japan |
| Akkeshi · Hokkaido | 6.50 m | 128 km | Japan |
| Senhoshi · Hokkaido | 6.50 m | 392 km | Japan |
| Konbumori · Hokkaido | 5.00 m | 105 km | Japan |
| Monshizu · Hokkaido | 3.91 m | 126 km | Japan |
| Kombumori · Hokkaido | 3.80 m | 105 km | Japan |
| Horinai · Iwate | 3.50 m | 287 km | Japan |
| Aiboshima · Hokkaido | 3.30 m | 49 km | Japan |
| Hidaka · Hokkaido | 3.30 m | 140 km | Japan |
| Komonbetsu · Hokkaido | 3.25 m | 48 km | Japan |
| Kiritappu · Hokkaido | 3.20 m | 148 km | Japan |
| Nakanobanya · Hokkaido | 3.16 m | 56 km | Japan |
| Fuyushima · Hokkaido | 3.00 m | 72 km | Japan |
| Oikamonae-Gyoba · Hokkaido | 3.00 m | 52 km | Japan |
| Cape Erimo · Hokkaido | 2.70 m | 54 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.