Historical tsunamis · Mar 23, 1978, 12:31 AM UTC
1978 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Mar 23, 1978, 12:31 AM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 23, 1978, 12:31 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.8
- Depth
- 46 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.17 m
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake at a depth of 46 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.17 m (Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye, Russia).
4 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 23, 1978, 12:31 AM UTC
- 0:39 hRussia · Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · 0.17 m
4 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 4 | 0.17 m Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye | — | 0:39 h |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.17 m | 134 km | Russia |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 0.10 m | 177 km | Russia |
| Poronaysk, Sakhalin · Sakhalin | 0.03 m | 714 km | Russia |
| Yuzhno-Kuril'sk, Kunashir Island · Kuril Islands | — | 250 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.