Historical tsunamis · May 17, 1841, 9:30 PM UTC
1841 Kamchatka tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of May 17, 1841, 9:30 PM UTC originated near Kamchatka (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- May 17, 1841, 9:30 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.4
- Depth
- 30 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 15.0 m
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 7
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake at a depth of 30 km.
The highest documented water height was 15.0 m (Halaktyrka, Kamchatka, Russia).
7 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Honolulu, Oahu, Hi (United States) after 6:24 h.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
7Each 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)
- 6:24 hUnited States · Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · 1.00 m
1 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 3 | 15.0 m Halaktyrka, Kamchatka | — | — |
 United States | 4 | 4.60 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 6:24 h |
Highest documented water heights
7 / 7Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halaktyrka, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | 15.00 m | 124 km | Russia |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 4.60 m | 5,402 km | United States |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 1.00 m | 5,088 km | United States |
| Lahaina, Maui, Hi · Hi | 1.00 m | 5,199 km | United States |
| Petropavlovsk, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | 1.00 m | 121 km | Russia |
| Hakaaano, Molokai, Hi · Hi | — | 5,166 km | United States |
| Ostrovnoye, Kamchatka · Kamchatka | — | 175 km | Russia |
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.