October 18, 1995 Earthquake: Ryuku Is., Japan

Name: October 18, 1995 Earthquake: Ryuku Is., Japan
Start: 1995-10-18
Location: Ryuku Is., Japan

October 18, 1995 · M7.1

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Ryuku Is., Japan on October 18, 1995 at 10:37:26 UTC, 28 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.

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: October 18, 1995
Time: 10:37:26 UTC
Place: Ryuku Is., Japan
Magnitude: 7.1 (Mw)
Focal depth: 28 km (17 mi)
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 27.929° N, 130.175° E
Country: Japan

The toll

Injuries: 1
Damage: Limited (under about $1 million) with its tsunami and other effects

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.

One person injured on Amami O-shima. Felt (V JMA) on Kikai-shima and (IV JMA) at Naze, Amami O-shima. Tsunami generated with estimated runup heights of 100 to 260 cm on Kikai-shima and Amami O-shima, causing minor damage to boats. Maximum wave height (peak-to-trough) of 80 cm recorded

on Nakano-shima. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1995 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1995 Recent earthquakes near here This 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 6495.