Historical tsunamis · Nov 15, 2006, 11:14 AM UTC
2006 S. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Nov 15, 2006, 11:14 AM UTC originated near S. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 15, 2006, 11:14 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.3
- Depth
- 10 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 21.9 m
- Injuries
- 1
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 261
- Countries affected
- 26
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake at a depth of 10 km.
The highest documented water height was 21.9 m (Sarychevo-152, Matua Island, Russia).
261 observation sites in 26 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at D21414 Bpr, Northwest Pacific Ocean (United States) after 0:09 h.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
261Each 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) · Nov 15, 2006, 11:14 AM UTC
- 0:09 hUnited States · D21414 Bpr, Northwest Pacific Ocean
- 1:15 hJapan · Hanasaki · 0.36 m
- 6:56 hCanada · Langara Island, British Columbia · 0.19 m
- 9:46 hUSA Territory · Pago Pago, American Samoa · 0.22 m
- 14:06 hNew Zealand · Jackson Bay · 0.11 m
- 22:14 hChile · D32401 Bpr, W-SW of Arica, Chile
50 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 120 | 21.9 m Sarychevo-152, Matua Island | — | — |
 United States | 60 | 0.88 m Crescent City, Ca | — | 0:09 h |
 Japan | 21 | 0.70 m Miyake Island | — | 1:15 h |
 Mexico | 1 | 0.64 m Ensenada | — | — |
 Chile | 14 | 0.48 m Talcahuano | — | 22:14 h |
| USA Territory | 3 | 0.47 m Midway Islands | — | 9:46 h |
 French Polynesia | 3 | 0.44 m Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas Islands | — | — |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.39 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
 Peru | 2 | 0.36 m Callao la Punta | — | — |
 Ecuador | 2 | 0.33 m Santa Cruz Island | — | — |
 New Zealand | 7 | 0.29 m Timaru | — | 14:06 h |
 Cook Islands | 1 | 0.22 m Rarotonga | — | — |
 Canada | 10 | 0.19 m Langara Island, British Columbia | — | 6:56 h |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 2 | 0.14 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | — |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.14 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | — |
 Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0.07 m Manus Island, Admiralty Islands | — | — |
 Niue | 1 | 0.07 m Niue | — | — |
 Tonga | 1 | 0.07 m Nukualofa (Nuku'alofa) | — | — |
| Naoero | 1 | 0.06 m Nauru | — | — |
 Fiji | 2 | 0.05 m Lautoka | — | — |
 Tuvalu | 1 | 0.05 m Funafuti | — | — |
 Kiribati | 2 | 0.04 m Betio, Tarawa | — | — |
 Solomon Islands | 1 | 0.04 m Honiara, Guadalcanal | — | — |
 Costa Rica | 1 | — | — | — |
| Micronesia, Fed. States Of | 1 | — | — | — |
 New Caledonia | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 261Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarychevo-152, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 21.90 m | 163 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-126, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 20.80 m | 161 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-133, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 20.20 m | 161 km | Russia |
| Dushnaya Bay-1, Simushir Island · Kuril Islands | 20.00 m | 98 km | Russia |
| Sarychevo-79, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 19.00 m | 164 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-132, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 18.30 m | 161 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-139, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 18.10 m | 162 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-2-2006, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 18.10 m | 162 km | Russia |
| Sarychevo-73, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 18.10 m | 165 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-1-2006, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 17.10 m | 162 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-130, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 17.10 m | 162 km | Russia |
| Ainu Bay-143, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 17.10 m | 162 km | Russia |
| Sarychevo-147, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 17.00 m | 163 km | Russia |
| Sarychevo-83, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 16.80 m | 164 km | Russia |
| Sarychevo-154, Matua Island · Kuril Islands | 16.70 m | 163 km | Russia |
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.