Historical tsunamis · Mar 22, 1978, 12:50 AM UTC
1978 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Mar 22, 1978, 12:50 AM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 22, 1978, 12:50 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.7
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.07 m
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.07 m (Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan, Russia).
2 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
2Each 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) · Mar 22, 1978, 12:50 AM UTC
- 0:37 hRussia · Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · 0.07 m
1 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 1 | 0.07 m Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan | — | 0:37 h |
 Japan | 1 | 0.05 m Hanasaki | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 0.07 m | 176 km | Russia |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.05 m | 289 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.