Historical tsunamis · Jul 12, 1966, 6:53 PM UTC
1966 Black Sea tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Jul 12, 1966, 6:53 PM UTC originated near Black Sea (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jul 12, 1966, 6:53 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M5.5
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.21 m
- Observation records
- 8
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 0.21 m (Gelendzhik, Russia).
8 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
8Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 2 | 0.21 m Gelendzhik | — | — |
 Ukraine | 5 | 0.05 m Feodosiya | — | — |
 Georgia | 1 | 0.01 m Batumi | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
8 / 8Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelendzhik | 0.21 m | 88 km | Russia |
| Feodosiya | 0.05 m | 132 km | Ukraine |
| Kerch | 0.05 m | 79 km | Ukraine |
| Tuapse | 0.04 m | 180 km | Russia |
| Opasnoe | 0.03 m | 69 km | Ukraine |
| Mariupol | 0.02 m | 263 km | Ukraine |
| Batumi | 0.01 m | 511 km | Georgia |
| Yalta | 0.01 m | 226 km | Ukraine |
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.