Historical tsunamis · Mar 8, 1766
1766 Sanriku tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Mar 8, 1766 originated near Sanriku (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 8, 1766
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 1,700
- Houses destroyed
- 8,200
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
3 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 1,700 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 8,200.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
3Each 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 | 3 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aomori · Aomori | — | 8 km | Japan |
| Choshi · Chiba | — | 572 km | Japan |
| Tsugaru · Aomori | — | 9 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.