Historical tsunamis · Jun 24, 1973, 2:43 AM UTC
1973 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Jun 24, 1973, 2:43 AM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 24, 1973, 2:43 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.1
- Depth
- 50 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.64 m
- Injuries
- 1
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 32
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake at a depth of 50 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.64 m (Hanasaki, Japan).
32 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Hiroo (Japan) after 0:49 h.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
32Each 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) · Jun 24, 1973, 2:43 AM UTC
- 0:18 hRussia · Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · 0.56 m
- 0:49 hJapan · Hiroo · 0.28 m
5 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Japan | 28 | 0.64 m Hanasaki | — | 0:49 h |
| Russia | 4 | 0.56 m Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan | — | 0:18 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 32Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.64 m | 68 km | Japan |
| E. Hokkaido · Hokkaido | 0.61 m | 285 km | Japan |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 0.56 m | 71 km | Russia |
| Hiroo · Hokkaido | 0.28 m | 276 km | Japan |
| Soya · Hokkaido | 0.28 m | 432 km | Japan |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.28 m | 274 km | Japan |
| Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.23 m | 206 km | Russia |
| Kujiko · Iwate | 0.15 m | 514 km | Japan |
| Kushiro · Hokkaido | 0.15 m | 169 km | Japan |
| Urakawa · Hokkaido | 0.15 m | 323 km | Japan |
| Kamaishi · Iwate | 0.14 m | 586 km | Japan |
| Taro · Iwate | 0.14 m | 541 km | Japan |
| Shimanokoshigyoko · Iwate | 0.13 m | 530 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.12 m | 507 km | Japan |
| Kesennumagyoko · Miyagi | 0.12 m | 633 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.