Historical tsunamis · Mar 18, 1987, 3:36 AM UTC
1987 Kyushu Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Mar 18, 1987, 3:36 AM UTC originated near Kyushu Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 18, 1987, 3:36 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.7
- Depth
- 54 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.04 m
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 5
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at a depth of 54 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.04 m (Kyushu Coast, Japan).
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 2 deaths.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
1Each 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 | 1 | 0.04 m Kyushu Coast | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyushu Coast · Kumamoto | 0.04 m | 133 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.