Historical tsunamis · Jul 12, 1993, 1:17 PM UTC
1993 Sea of Japan tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Jul 12, 1993, 1:17 PM UTC originated near Sea of Japan (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Jul 12, 1993, 1:17 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 17 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 32.0 m
- Deaths
- 231
- Injuries
- 233
- Houses destroyed
- 2,374
- Damage
- US$ 1,207 million
- Observation records
- 190
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 17 km.
The highest documented water height was 32.0 m (Okushiri, Okushiri Island, Japan).
190 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Ulleung-Do Island (South Korea) after 10:29 h.
The database records 231 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 2,374.
Damage is estimated at US$ 1,207 million.
Map of observation sites
190Each 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) · Jul 12, 1993, 1:17 PM UTC
- 0:11 hJapan · Esashi · 1.75 m
- 10:29 hSouth Korea · Ulleung-Do Island · 0.47 m
6 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 135 | 32.0 m Okushiri, Okushiri Island | 181 | 0:11 h |
 Russia | 17 | 5.00 m Nakhodka | 3 | — |
 South Korea | 37 | 2.77 m Mukho | — | 10:29 h |
 North Korea | 1 | 2.10 m Chongjin Port | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 190Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okushiri, Okushiri Island · Hokkaido | 32.00 m | 80 km | Japan |
| Monai, Okushiri Island · Hokkaido | 30.60 m | 85 km | Japan |
| Hamatsumae · Hokkaido | 19.00 m | 90 km | Japan |
| Mueniwa-Campsite, Okushiri Island · Hokkaido | 15.30 m | 83 km | Japan |
| South of Monai, Okushiri Island · Hokkaido | 11.40 m | 88 km | Japan |
| Hokkaido · Hokkaido | 10.00 m | 333 km | Japan |
| South of Monai, Okushiri Island · Hokkaido | 9.35 m | 87 km | Japan |
| Ota Bay · Hokkaido | 9.00 m | 80 km | Japan |
| Harauta · Hokkaido | 8.51 m | 67 km | Japan |
| Setana · Hokkaido | 8.50 m | 70 km | Japan |
| B/W Monai & Horonai, Okushiri Is · Hokkaido | 8.15 m | 81 km | Japan |
| North of Monai, Okushiri Island · Hokkaido | 6.50 m | 80 km | Japan |
| Toyohama · Hokkaido | 6.50 m | 116 km | Japan |
| Daini-Sakaehama · Hokkaido | 6.40 m | 60 km | Japan |
| Kaitorima · Hokkaido | 6.30 m | 89 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.