Historical tsunamis · Feb 28, 1973, 6:37 AM UTC
1973 N. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Feb 28, 1973, 6:37 AM UTC originated near N. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 28, 1973, 6:37 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.2
- Depth
- 27 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.50 m
- Observation records
- 6
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake at a depth of 27 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.50 m.
6 observation sites in 2 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.
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 28, 1973, 6:37 AM UTC
- 0:07 hRussia · Shumshu Island, Kurilskiye · 0.60 m
4 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 4 | 0.80 m Cape Vasileva, Paramushir I, Kurils | — | 0:07 h |
 United States | 2 | 0.10 m Attu, Massacre Bay, Ak | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Vasileva, Paramushir I, Kurils · Kuril Islands | 0.80 m | 102 km | Russia |
| Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island · Kuril Islands | 0.76 m | 39 km | Russia |
| Shumshu Island, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.60 m | 28 km | Russia |
| Attu, Massacre Bay, Ak · Ak | 0.10 m | 1,175 km | United States |
| Shemya Island, Ak · Ak | 0.08 m | 1,234 km | United States |
| Matua, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.07 m | 362 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.