Historical tsunamis · May 20, 1751
1751 NW. Honshu Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of May 20, 1751 originated near NW. Honshu Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- May 20, 1751
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M6.6
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 2,100
- Houses destroyed
- 9,100
- Damage
- extreme (over US$ 25 million)
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake.
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 2,100 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 9,100.
Damage is estimated at extreme (over US$ 25 million).
Map of observation sites
1Each 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 | 1 | — | 2,100 | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naoetsuko · Niigata | — | 13 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.