Historical tsunamis · Feb 20, 1979, 6:32 AM UTC
1979 Iwate, Japan tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Feb 20, 1979, 6:32 AM UTC originated near Iwate, Japan (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 20, 1979, 6:32 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.4
- Depth
- 10 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.12 m
- Observation records
- 11
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake at a depth of 10 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.12 m (Shimanokoshigyoko, Japan).
11 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
11Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 11 | 0.12 m Shimanokoshigyoko | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
11 / 11Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimanokoshigyoko · Iwate | 0.12 m | 155 km | Japan |
| Kujiko · Iwate | 0.10 m | 161 km | Japan |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.07 m | 287 km | Japan |
| Ofunato · Iwate | 0.07 m | 215 km | Japan |
| Enoshima · Miyagi | 0.06 m | 272 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.05 m | 187 km | Japan |
| Urakawa · Hokkaido | 0.05 m | 229 km | Japan |
| Hiroo · Hokkaido | 0.04 m | 230 km | Japan |
| Tokachiko · Hokkaido | 0.04 m | 232 km | Japan |
| Miyako · Iwate | 0.03 m | 161 km | Japan |
| Onahama · Fukushima | 0.03 m | 440 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.