Historical tsunamis · Apr 21, 1969, 7:19 AM UTC
1969 Ryukyu Islands tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Apr 21, 1969, 7:19 AM UTC originated near Ryukyu Islands (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Apr 21, 1969, 7:19 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.5
- Depth
- 41 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.10 m
- Observation records
- 6
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake at a depth of 41 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.10 m (Murotomisaki, Japan).
6 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
6Each 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 | 6 | 0.10 m Murotomisaki | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
6 / 6Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murotomisaki · Kochi | 0.10 m | 227 km | Japan |
| Kamaegyoko · Oita | 0.08 m | 68 km | Japan |
| Odomari · Kagoshima | 0.06 m | 188 km | Japan |
| Aburatsu · Miyazaki | 0.05 m | 94 km | Japan |
| Tosa-Shimizu · Kochi | 0.05 m | 103 km | Japan |
| Yawatahama · Ehime | 0.05 m | 142 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.