Historical tsunamis · Dec 2, 1996, 10:17 PM UTC
1996 Sea of Japan tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Dec 2, 1996, 10:17 PM UTC originated near Sea of Japan (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 2, 1996, 10:17 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.7
- Depth
- 49 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.20 m
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at a depth of 49 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.20 m.
4 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 | 4 | 0.12 m Aburatsu | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aburatsu · Miyazaki | 0.12 m | 25 km | Japan |
| Tosa-Shimizu · Kochi | 0.12 m | 190 km | Japan |
| Hososhima · Miyazaki | 0.07 m | 79 km | Japan |
| Murotomisaki · Kochi | 0.07 m | 314 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.