Historical tsunamis · Jun 12, 1978, 8:14 AM UTC
1978 Sanriku tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Jun 12, 1978, 8:14 AM UTC originated near Sanriku (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 12, 1978, 8:14 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 44 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.60 m
- Deaths
- 28
- Injuries
- 1,000
- Houses destroyed
- very many (over 1,000)
- Damage
- US$ 865 million
- Observation records
- 31
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 44 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.60 m (Kesennumagyoko, Japan).
31 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 28 deaths.
Houses destroyed: very many (over 1,000).
Damage is estimated at US$ 865 million.
Map of observation sites
31Each 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 12, 1978, 8:14 AM UTC
- 0:40 hJapan · Matsukawaura · 0.10 m
3 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 31 | 0.60 m Kesennumagyoko | — | 0:40 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 31Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kesennumagyoko · Miyagi | 0.60 m | 87 km | Japan |
| Onagawa · Miyagi | 0.58 m | 58 km | Japan |
| Tsukihama · Miyagi | 0.35 m | 66 km | Japan |
| Sendaishinko · Miyagi | 0.30 m | 88 km | Japan |
| Shirahama · Wakayama | 0.30 m | 65 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe (Kensetsukyoku) · Aomori | 0.26 m | 262 km | Japan |
| Ishinomaki · Miyagi | 0.24 m | 71 km | Japan |
| Kamaishi · Iwate | 0.24 m | 120 km | Japan |
| Ofunato · Iwate | 0.24 m | 95 km | Japan |
| Enoshima · Miyagi | 0.22 m | 44 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.22 m | 264 km | Japan |
| Shiogama · Miyagi | 0.21 m | 88 km | Japan |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.20 m | 48 km | Japan |
| Hitachiko · Ibaraki | 0.18 m | 225 km | Japan |
| Miyato · Miyagi | 0.18 m | 77 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.