Historical tsunamis · Aug 11, 1969, 9:26 PM UTC
1969 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Aug 11, 1969, 9:26 PM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 11, 1969, 9:26 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.2
- Depth
- 30 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 5.00 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 76
- Countries affected
- 8
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake at a depth of 30 km.
The highest documented water height was 5.00 m (Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan Island, Russia).
76 observation sites in 8 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia (Canada) after 8:58 h.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
76Each 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) · Aug 11, 1969, 9:26 PM UTC
- 0:30 hRussia · Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · 1.03 m
- 8:58 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.03 m
9 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 15 | 5.00 m Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan Island | — | 0:30 h |
 Japan | 47 | 1.30 m Nemuroko | — | — |
 United States | 6 | 0.22 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | — |
| USA Territory | 3 | 0.20 m Midway Islands | — | — |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 1 | 0.10 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | — |
 Peru | 1 | 0.10 m La Punta | — | — |
 Canada | 2 | 0.07 m Port Alberni, British Columbia | — | 8:58 h |
 Ecuador | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 76Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan Island · Kuril Islands | 5.00 m | 99 km | Russia |
| Dimitrova Bay, Shikotan Island · Kuril Islands | 4.00 m | 91 km | Russia |
| Zelyenyi Is. · Kuril Islands | 2.00 m | 144 km | Russia |
| Polonsky Is. · Kuril Islands | 1.50 m | 125 km | Russia |
| Nemuroko · Hokkaido | 1.30 m | 190 km | Japan |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 1.29 m | 192 km | Japan |
| Yuzhno-Kuril'sk, Kunashir Island · Kuril Islands | 1.05 m | 171 km | Russia |
| Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 1.03 m | 149 km | Russia |
| Krabozavodsk, Shikotan Island · Kuril Islands | 1.00 m | 98 km | Russia |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 1.00 m | 92 km | Russia |
| Tanfileva Is. · Kuril Islands | 1.00 m | 161 km | Russia |
| Yury Is. · Kuril Islands | 1.00 m | 146 km | Russia |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.78 m | 400 km | Japan |
| Hiroo · Hokkaido | 0.70 m | 401 km | Japan |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.70 m | 400 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.