Historical tsunamis · Feb 17, 1793
1793 Sanriku tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Feb 17, 1793 originated near Sanriku (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 17, 1793
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.3
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 4.50 m
- Deaths
- 745
- Houses destroyed
- 1,160
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 8
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 4.50 m (Ryoishi, Japan).
8 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 745 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 1,160.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
8Each 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 | 8 | 4.50 m Ryoishi | 13 | — |
Highest documented water heights
8 / 8Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryoishi · Iwate | 4.50 m | 203 km | Japan |
| Yamada · Iwate | 3.50 m | 208 km | Japan |
| Ofunato · Iwate | 3.00 m | 204 km | Japan |
| Okachi · Miyagi | 2.50 m | 221 km | Japan |
| Otsuchi · Iwate | 2.50 m | 204 km | Japan |
| Hachinohe · Aomori | — | 310 km | Japan |
| Kamaishi · Iwate | — | 203 km | Japan |
| Kesennuma · Miyagi | — | 216 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.