Historical tsunamis · Mar 24, 1978, 7:47 PM UTC
1978 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Mar 24, 1978, 7:47 PM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 24, 1978, 7:47 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.65 m
- Observation records
- 20
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.65 m (Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye, Russia).
20 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Hanasaki (Japan) after 0:51 h.
Map of observation sites
20Each 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 24, 1978, 7:47 PM UTC
- 0:32 hRussia · Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye · 0.65 m
- 0:51 hJapan · Hanasaki · 0.32 m
- 3:58 hUSA Territory · Wake Island · 0.05 m
18 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 7 | 0.65 m Burevestnik, Iturup I., Kurilskiye | — | 0:32 h |
 Japan | 11 | 0.32 m Hanasaki | — | 0:51 h |
| USA Territory | 2 | 0.12 m Midway Islands | — | 3:58 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 20Individual 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 | 0.65 m | 124 km | Russia |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 0.37 m | 169 km | Russia |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.32 m | 286 km | Japan |
| Hiroo · Hokkaido | 0.21 m | 500 km | Japan |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.19 m | 498 km | Japan |
| Urakawa · Hokkaido | 0.18 m | 546 km | Japan |
| Yuzhno-Kuril'sk, Kunashir Island · Kuril Islands | 0.18 m | 241 km | Russia |
| Nemuroko · Hokkaido | 0.13 m | 282 km | Japan |
| Chichijima Island · Bonin Is, Tokyo | 0.12 m | 1,995 km | Japan |
| Midway Islands · Hi | 0.12 m | 3,483 km | USA Territory |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.10 m | 730 km | Japan |
| Matua, Kurilskiye · Kuril Islands | 0.10 m | 545 km | Russia |
| Kushiro · Hokkaido | 0.08 m | 389 km | Japan |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.06 m | 903 km | Japan |
| Cape Crillon (Krilon), Sakhalin I. · Sakhalin | 0.05 m | 564 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.