Historical tsunamis · Feb 26, 1961, 6:10 PM UTC
1961 Seikaido tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Feb 26, 1961, 6:10 PM UTC originated near Seikaido (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 26, 1961, 6:10 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 74 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.65 m
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 7
- Houses destroyed
- 170
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 29
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 74 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.65 m (Uchiumiko, Japan).
29 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 2 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 170.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
29Each 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) · Feb 26, 1961, 6:10 PM UTC
- 0:03 hJapan · Aburatsu · 0.34 m
18 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 29 | 0.65 m Uchiumiko | — | 0:03 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 29Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uchiumiko · Miyazaki | 0.65 m | 34 km | Japan |
| Hososhima · Miyazaki | 0.62 m | 93 km | Japan |
| Tosa-Shimizu · Kochi | 0.50 m | 170 km | Japan |
| Hososhima · Miyazaki | 0.45 m | 93 km | Japan |
| Mishoko · Ehime | 0.35 m | 166 km | Japan |
| Aburatsu · Miyazaki | 0.34 m | 36 km | Japan |
| Sakaematsu · Miyazaki | 0.30 m | 41 km | Japan |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.18 m | 833 km | Japan |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.17 m | 833 km | Japan |
| Kushimoto · Wakayama | 0.15 m | 428 km | Japan |
| Yawatahama · Ehime | 0.14 m | 213 km | Japan |
| Nishinoomote · Kagoshima | 0.13 m | 123 km | Japan |
| Uwajima · Ehime | 0.13 m | 194 km | Japan |
| Miyazakiko · Miyazaki | 0.10 m | 47 km | Japan |
| Tokai · Tshiba | 0.10 m | 916 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.