January 1826 Tsunami: Chichi Jima, Japan
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Chichi Jima, Japan in January 1826. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- January 1826
- Source
- Chichi Jima, Japan
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 27.070° N, 142.210° E
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 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.
Reference #414:
1826, January. There was a very strong earthquake, accompanied by a tsunami, on Chichizima Island (Peel Island). In Futami Bay (Port Lloyd), which is of crater origin, according to two eyewitnesses (English sailors left on the island), the water rose 6 m (20 feet) above the level of the highest high tides. A schooner being built in the bay was smashed, and the freight removed from the preceding vessel, which had been wrecked, and floating in the bay, was washed ashore. Several barrels were left at a height of 3 1/2 m (12 feet) above the usual water level. The frightened sailors took to the hills to escape the flood (Beechy, 1831; Perrey, 1862 c).
Reference #497:
1826, January. The most southern of the Isles de l'Archeveque, islands lying to the south of Fatsisio, Bonin. A violent earthquake. Accompanied by a hurricane or typhoon, which raised the sea twelve feet above its ordinary level. (reference #497)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Futami Bay, Chichijima Island | Japan | 3 | 6 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1826The 1800sTsunamis of JapanThe earthquakeAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 5445.