Historical tsunamis · Jan 15, 2009, 5:49 PM UTC
2009 Kamchatka tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Jan 15, 2009, 5:49 PM UTC originated near Kamchatka (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 15, 2009, 5:49 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.4
- Depth
- 36 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.11 m
- Observation records
- 11
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake at a depth of 36 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.11 m (Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island, Russia).
11 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at D21418 Bpr, NE Tokyo, Japan (Japan) after 1:14 h.
Map of observation sites
11Each 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) · Jan 15, 2009, 5:49 PM UTC
- 0:44 hRussia · D21416, Kamchatka · 0.02 m
- 1:14 hJapan · D21418 Bpr, NE Tokyo, Japan
- 2:42 hUnited States · D46413 Bpr, East of Adak, Ak · 0.01 m
- 4:02 hUSA Territory · Wake Island · 0.03 m
9 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 4 | 0.11 m Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island | — | 0:44 h |
 United States | 3 | 0.04 m Arena Cove, Ca | — | 2:42 h |
 Japan | 3 | 0.03 m Ishigakiko | — | 1:14 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.03 m Wake Island | — | 4:02 h |
Highest documented water heights
11 / 11Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island · Kuril Islands | 0.11 m | 432 km | Russia |
| Cape Van Der Linde, Urup, Kurils · Kuril Islands | 0.05 m | 473 km | Russia |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 0.05 m | 732 km | Russia |
| Arena Cove, Ca · Ca | 0.04 m | 6,387 km | United States |
| Ishigakiko · Okinawa | 0.03 m | 3,715 km | Japan |
| Port Orford, Or · Or | 0.03 m | 6,087 km | United States |
| Wake Island · Um | 0.03 m | 3,232 km | USA Territory |
| D21416, Kamchatka · Kuril Islands | 0.02 m | 542 km | Russia |
| D21413, SE Tokyo, Japan | 0.01 m | 1,829 km | Japan |
| D46413 Bpr, East of Adak, Ak · Ak | 0.01 m | 2,186 km | United States |
| D21418 Bpr, NE Tokyo, Japan | — | 1,048 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.