Historical tsunamis · Feb 12, 1961, 9:53 PM UTC
1961 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Feb 12, 1961, 9:53 PM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 12, 1961, 9:53 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.6
- Depth
- 80 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.00 m
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake at a depth of 80 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.00 m.
4 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 | 4 | 0.07 m Hanasaki | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.07 m | 190 km | Japan |
| Kushiro · Hokkaido | 0.07 m | 288 km | Japan |
| Hiroo · Hokkaido | 0.04 m | 389 km | Japan |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.04 m | 387 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.