Historical tsunamis · Oct 20, 1861, 5:30 PM UTC
1861 Off Miyagi tsunami
Japan
The tsunami of Oct 20, 1861, 5:30 PM UTC originated near Off Miyagi (Japan).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 20, 1861, 5:30 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.4
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.90 m
- Houses destroyed
- 70
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 3.90 m (Ryori, Japan).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Houses destroyed: 70.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 | 2 | 3.90 m Ryori | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryori · Iwate | 3.90 m | 60 km | Japan |
| Nobiru · Miyagi | 3.00 m | 74 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.