February 8, 1793 Earthquake: Aomori, Japan
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Aomori, Japan on February 8, 1793 at 03:00 UTC. It killed 12 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- February 8, 1793
- Time
- 03:00 UTC
- Place
- Aomori, Japan
- Magnitude
- 6.9 (Ms)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 40.850° N, 139.950° E
- Country
- Japan
The toll
- Deaths
- 12
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 164
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Reference #414:
On February 8 at 12:00 [local time] there was a very strong earthquake on the west of Aomori Prefecture. The source was apparently situated in the coastal region of Odose, and possibly also under the floor of the sea. The earthquake destroyed 164 homes and caused a small tsunami. Twelve people died in the earthquake and tsunami.
Iida et al. (1967): 40.7 N., 140 E.; M=6.9, m=1.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 31, 1341, Jusanko, Japan
- March 8, 1766, Hirosaki, Japan
- July 31, 1640, Uchiura Bay, Japan
- June 19, 1694, Ugo, Japan
- August 31, 1896, Senhoku, Ugo, Japan
- October 18, 1644, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 26, 1983, Akita, Honshu, Japan
- March 15, 1914, Senhoku, Japan
- September 25, 1810, Oga, Japan
- May 27, 1704, N of Nosiro, Japan
- May 1, 1939, NW, Honshu, Japan
- August 9, 1901, Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan
- July 23, 2008, N, Honshu, Japan
- June 21, 1983, N. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 7, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1793The 1700sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 1520.