Historical tsunamis · Nov 6, 1958, 10:58 PM UTC
1958 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Nov 6, 1958, 10:58 PM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 6, 1958, 10:58 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.3
- Depth
- 40 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 5.00 m
- Injuries
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 61
- Countries affected
- 8
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake at a depth of 40 km.
The highest documented water height was 5.00 m (Shikotan Island, Kurilskiye, Russia).
61 observation sites in 8 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Nemuroko (Japan) after 0:36 h.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
61Each 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) · Nov 6, 1958, 10:58 PM UTC
- 0:36 hJapan · Nemuroko · 0.60 m
- 2:00 hUnited States · Adak, Sweeper Cove, Ak · 0.10 m
- 4:06 hUSA Territory · Wake Island · 0.10 m
- 6:00 hMarshall Islands, Rep. Of · Kwajalein, Marshall Islands · 0.10 m
- 9:05 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.05 m
- 19:24 hPeru · Talara · 0.10 m
- 39:00 hAustralia · Fort Denison, Sydney Harbor
22 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 7 | 5.00 m Shikotan Island, Kurilskiye | — | — |
 Japan | 36 | 1.00 m Biwase | — | 0:36 h |
 United States | 11 | 0.30 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | 2:00 h |
| USA Territory | 3 | 0.20 m Midway Islands | — | 4:06 h |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 1 | 0.10 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | 6:00 h |
 Peru | 1 | 0.10 m Talara | — | 19:24 h |
 Canada | 1 | 0.05 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 9:05 h |
 Australia | 1 | — | — | 39:00 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 61Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shikotan Island, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 5.00 m | 166 km | Russia |
| Urup Island, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 4.00 m | 92 km | Russia |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 3.50 m | 156 km | Russia |
| Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 3.00 m | 85 km | Russia |
| Iturup Island, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 3.00 m | 92 km | Russia |
| Sernovodsk, Kunashir · Kuril Islands | 2.50 m | 243 km | Russia |
| Yuzhno-Kuril'sk, Kunashir Island · Kuril Islands | 2.50 m | 221 km | Russia |
| Biwase · Hokkaido | 1.00 m | 323 km | Japan |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.81 m | 276 km | Japan |
| Kiritappu · Hokkaido | 0.80 m | 318 km | Japan |
| Nemuroko · Hokkaido | 0.60 m | 271 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.51 m | 727 km | Japan |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.46 m | 489 km | Japan |
| Urakawa · Hokkaido | 0.37 m | 536 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe (Kensetsukyoku) · Aomori | 0.34 m | 729 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.