Historical tsunamis · Mar 25, 2020, 2:49 AM UTC
2020 N. Kuril Islands tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Mar 25, 2020, 2:49 AM UTC originated near N. Kuril Islands (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 25, 2020, 2:49 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 58 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.25 m
- Observation records
- 16
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 58 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.25 m (Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island, Russia).
16 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at D21415 Bpr, 175 Nm S of Attu, Ak (United States) after 1:10 h.
Map of observation sites
16Each 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) · Mar 25, 2020, 2:49 AM UTC
- 0:30 hRussia · D21416, Kamchatka · 0.03 m
- 1:10 hUnited States · D21415 Bpr, 175 Nm S of Attu, Ak · 0.01 m
8 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 4 | 0.25 m Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir Island | — | 0:30 h |
 United States | 5 | 0.11 m Crescent City, Ca | — | 1:10 h |
 Canada | 5 | 0.03 m Winter Harbor, British Columbia | — | — |
| USA Territory | 2 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 16Individual 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 | 0.25 m | 222 km | Russia |
| Vodopadnaya, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | 0.20 m | 308 km | Russia |
| Crescent City, Ca · Ca | 0.11 m | 5,899 km | United States |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.08 m | 5,102 km | United States |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.07 m | 5,297 km | United States |
| Haleiwa, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.05 m | 4,933 km | United States |
| D21416, Kamchatka · Kuril Islands | 0.03 m | 426 km | Russia |
| Winter Harbor, British Columbia · Bc | 0.03 m | 5,125 km | Canada |
| Bamfield, British Columbia · Bc | 0.02 m | 5,399 km | Canada |
| Henslung Cove, British Columbia · Bc | 0.02 m | 4,643 km | Canada |
| Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · Bc | 0.02 m | 5,332 km | Canada |
| Ucluelet, British Columbia · Bc | 0.02 m | 5,366 km | Canada |
| D21415 Bpr, 175 Nm S of Attu, Ak · Ak | 0.01 m | 1,037 km | United States |
| D21419 Bpr, 209 Nm S of Kuril Is · Kuril Islands | 0.01 m | 526 km | Russia |
| Midway Islands · Hi | — | 3,138 km | USA Territory |
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.