Historical tsunamis · Jan 29, 1968, 10:19 AM UTC
1968 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Jan 29, 1968, 10:19 AM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 29, 1968, 10:19 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 40 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.18 m
- Observation records
- 17
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 40 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.18 m (Tokachiko, Japan).
17 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
17Each 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) · Jan 29, 1968, 10:19 AM UTC
- 0:30 hRussia · Polonsky Is.
5 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Japan | 9 | 0.18 m Tokachiko | — | — |
| Russia | 7 | 0.10 m Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye | — | 0:30 h |
 United States | 1 | 0.10 m Attu, Massacre Bay, Ak | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 17Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.18 m | 310 km | Japan |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.13 m | 98 km | Japan |
| Nemuroko · Hokkaido | 0.13 m | 94 km | Japan |
| Hiroo · Hokkaido | 0.11 m | 312 km | Japan |
| Attu, Massacre Bay, Ak · Ak | 0.10 m | 2,204 km | United States |
| Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.10 m | 167 km | Russia |
| Yuzhno (South) Kurils, Kunashir Is · Kuril Islands | 0.10 m | 84 km | Russia |
| Kushimoto · Wakayama | 0.08 m | 1,470 km | Japan |
| Shimanokoshigyoko · Iwate | 0.08 m | 570 km | Japan |
| Shionomisaki · Wakayama | 0.08 m | 1,473 km | Japan |
| Kushiro · Hokkaido | 0.06 m | 201 km | Japan |
| Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island · Kuril Islands | 0.04 m | 1,062 km | Russia |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.02 m | 546 km | Japan |
| Iturup Island, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.02 m | 167 km | Russia |
| Cape Crillon (Krilon), Sakhalin I. · Sakhalin | 0.01 m | 447 km | Russia |
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.