Historical tsunamis · Nov 21, 2016, 8:59 PM UTC
2016 E. Coast Honshu Island tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Nov 21, 2016, 8:59 PM UTC originated near E. Coast Honshu Island (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 21, 2016, 8:59 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Depth
- 9 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.44 m
- Injuries
- few (up to about 50)
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 44
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake at a depth of 9 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.44 m (Sendaishinko, Japan).
44 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Midway Islands (USA Territory) after 5:09 h.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
44Each 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 21, 2016, 8:59 PM UTC
- 0:30 hJapan · Onahama · 0.60 m
- 5:09 hUSA Territory · Midway Islands · 0.09 m
23 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 42 | 1.44 m Sendaishinko | — | 0:30 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.09 m Midway Islands | — | 5:09 h |
 Russia | 1 | 0.01 m D21416, Kamchatka | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 44Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sendaishinko · Miyagi | 1.44 m | 102 km | Japan |
| Soma · Fukushima | 0.83 m | 61 km | Japan |
| Kujiko · Iwate | 0.79 m | 314 km | Japan |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.73 m | 101 km | Japan |
| Ishinomaki · Miyagi | 0.66 m | 114 km | Japan |
| Onahama · Fukushima | 0.60 m | 67 km | Japan |
| Oaraiko · Ibaraki | 0.49 m | 138 km | Japan |
| Ofunato · Iwate | 0.40 m | 183 km | Japan |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.38 m | 308 km | Japan |
| Miyako · Iwate | 0.35 m | 256 km | Japan |
| Urakawa · Hokkaido | 0.32 m | 543 km | Japan |
| Kashimako · Ibaraki | 0.26 m | 170 km | Japan |
| Kamaishi · Iwate | 0.23 m | 212 km | Japan |
| Shiraoi · Hokkaido | 0.23 m | 573 km | Japan |
| Mutsuogawara · Aomori | 0.22 m | 393 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.