May 26, 1983 Earthquake: Akita, Honshu, Japan
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Akita, Honshu, Japan on May 26, 1983 at 02:59:59 UTC, 24 km below the surface. It killed 104 people, counting the tsunami it caused.
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
- May 26, 1983
- Time
- 02:59:59 UTC
- Place
- Akita, Honshu, Japan
- Magnitude
- 7.7 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 24 km (15 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 40.462° N, 139.102° E
- Country
- Japan
The toll
- Deaths
- 4; 104 with its tsunami and other effects
- Injuries
- 324
- Damage
- $800 million
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.
At least 104 people killed, some injured, and extensive damage to dwellings, roads, and vessels caused by earthquake and a tsunami along the Japan Sea coast from southern Hokkaido to the Niigata area, Honshu. Many of the casualties and much of the damage occurred on the Oga Peninsula. Tsunami damage occurred as far away as Yamaguchi Prefecture in southwestern Honshu, along the Japan Sea coast of USSR, and along the eastern and southern coasts of South Korea, where three additional people were killed. Felt (V JMA) at Akita. Felt on Hokkaido and throughout northern and central Honshu.Estimated tsunami heights were 14 meters at Minehama, Honshu, 2-6 meters along southern Hokkaido and northern Honshu, up to 8 meters along the coast of USSR, and 4 meters along the coast of South Korea. The focal mechanism is moderately well controlled and corresponds to reverse faulting.
(above from Reference #1053)
104 deaths, 77 injuries, $416 million dollars damage. (reference #1250)
104 deaths, $600 million overall losses, $26 million insured losses. (reference #1231)
Four individuals lost their lives directly
from the earthquake, and considerable property damage occurred, primarily from foundation failure as a result of soil liquefaction. (reference #149)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 31, 1341, Jusanko, Japan
- March 8, 1766, Hirosaki, Japan
- July 10, 1804, Kisakata, Japan
- June 19, 1694, Ugo, Japan
- August 31, 1896, Senhoku, Ugo, Japan
- October 18, 1644, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- March 15, 1914, Senhoku, Japan
- December 7, 1833, NW, Honshu, Japan
- September 25, 1810, Oga, Japan
- May 27, 1704, N of Nosiro, Japan
- May 1, 1939, NW, Honshu, Japan
- February 8, 1793, Aomori, Japan
- May 7, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- December 11, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
- May 7, 1964, NW. Honshu Island, Japan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1983The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1983Recent 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 4978.