Historical tsunamis · Jan 18, 1981, 6:17 PM UTC
1981 E. Honshu Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Jan 18, 1981, 6:17 PM UTC originated near E. Honshu Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 18, 1981, 6:17 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.37 m
- Observation records
- 26
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 0.37 m.
26 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
26Each 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 | 26 | 0.22 m Kamaishi | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 26Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamaishi · Iwate | 0.22 m | 102 km | Japan |
| Tsukihama · Miyagi | 0.22 m | 114 km | Japan |
| Shoyagyoko · Hokkaido | 0.16 m | 380 km | Japan |
| Kesennumagyoko · Miyagi | 0.15 m | 104 km | Japan |
| Ofunato · Iwate | 0.13 m | 96 km | Japan |
| Soma · Fukushima | 0.12 m | 180 km | Japan |
| Urakawa · Hokkaido | 0.12 m | 392 km | Japan |
| Hitachiko · Ibaraki | 0.11 m | 302 km | Japan |
| Enoshima · Miyagi | 0.10 m | 104 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | 0.10 m | 235 km | Japan |
| Oaraiko · Ibaraki | 0.10 m | 320 km | Japan |
| Miyako · Iwate | 0.09 m | 130 km | Japan |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.08 m | 488 km | Japan |
| Onahama · Fukushima | 0.08 m | 250 km | Japan |
| Shoya · Hokkaido | 0.08 m | 379 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.