September 6, 1971 Tsunami: Tatar Strait, Russia
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake began at Tatar Strait, Russia on September 6, 1971 at 13:37:10 UTC. The water rose as high as 0.07 meters. Its effects were recorded at 11 places in at least 2 countries.
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
- September 6, 1971, 13:37:10 UTC
- Source
- Tatar Strait, Russia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 5.5, 29 km deep
- Maximum water height
- 0.07 m (0.2 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 11
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 46.700° N, 141.400° E
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1971, September 7, 00 hr 37min [local time]. A strong aftershock of the Moneron earthquake of September 6 occurred and generated a weak tsunami. In Kholmsk the tide gauge recorded a 7 cm high wave with a period of 10 min. (reference #417)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kholmsk, Sakhalin I | Russia | 63 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Funadomari doubtful | Japan | 143 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Wakkanai doubtful | Japan | 145 | 0.32 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Senposhigyoko doubtful | Japan | 181 | 0.15 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Teshioko doubtful | Japan | 205 | 0.15 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Haboroko doubtful | Japan | 260 | 0.2 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Mombetsu doubtful | Japan | 303 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Rumoiko doubtful | Japan | 306 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Abashiri doubtful | Japan | 374 | 0.16 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Otaruko doubtful | Japan | 394 | 0.18 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Iwanaiko doubtful | Japan | 419 | 0.3 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) |
More
Every tsunami in 1971The 1900sTsunamis of RussiaThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts 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 2430.