Historical tsunamis · Apr 5, 1990, 9:12 PM UTC
1990 Mariana Trench, N. Mariana Islands tsunami
USA Territory
The tsunami of Apr 5, 1990, 9:12 PM UTC originated near Mariana Trench, N. Mariana Islands (USA Territory).
Key facts
- Date
- Apr 5, 1990, 9:12 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 11 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.80 m
- Observation records
- 34
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 11 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.80 m (Talofofo River, Guam, USA Territory).
34 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Adak, Sweeper Cove, Ak (United States) after 6:35 h.
Map of observation sites
34Each 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) · Apr 5, 1990, 9:12 PM UTC
- 1:23 hMicronesia, Fed. States Of · Truk Islands, Caroline Islands · 0.10 m
- 2:32 hUSA Territory · Wake Island · 0.02 m
- 6:35 hUnited States · Adak, Sweeper Cove, Ak · 0.05 m
5 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Territory | 4 | 1.80 m Talofofo River, Guam | — | 2:32 h |
 Japan | 27 | 0.32 m Mera | — | — |
 United States | 2 | 0.12 m Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hi | — | 6:35 h |
| Micronesia, Fed. States Of | 1 | 0.10 m Truk Islands, Caroline Islands | — | 1:23 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 34Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talofofo River, Guam · Gu | 1.80 m | 364 km | USA Territory |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.32 m | 2,327 km | Japan |
| Murotomisaki · Kochi | 0.24 m | 2,424 km | Japan |
| Kozushima · Izu-Oshima, Tokyo | 0.23 m | 2,279 km | Japan |
| Yaene, Hachijo Island · Tokyo | 0.23 m | 2,142 km | Japan |
| Chichijima Island · Bonin Is, Tokyo | 0.22 m | 1,438 km | Japan |
| Tosa-Shimizu · Kochi | 0.22 m | 2,452 km | Japan |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.21 m | 2,637 km | Japan |
| Yaene, Hachijo Island · Tokyo | 0.19 m | 2,142 km | Japan |
| Minami-Izu · Shizuoka | 0.17 m | 2,329 km | Japan |
| Kushimoto · Wakayama | 0.16 m | 2,355 km | Japan |
| Kaminato, Hachijo Island · Tokyo | 0.15 m | 2,144 km | Japan |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.15 m | 2,327 km | Japan |
| Miyake Island · Bonin Is, Tokyo | 0.14 m | 2,251 km | Japan |
| Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.12 m | 5,990 km | United States |
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.