October 4, 1994 Tsunami: S. Kuril Islands, Russia

Name: October 4, 1994 Tsunami: S. Kuril Islands, Russia
Start: 1994-10-04
Location: S. Kuril Islands, Russia

October 4, 1994 · 10.4 m · 11 deaths · Definite tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake began at S. Kuril Islands, Russia on October 4, 1994 at 13:22:55 UTC. The water rose as high as 10.4 meters. Its effects were recorded at 119 places in at least 8 countries. It killed 11 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.

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

Tsunami warnings in force

Travel times

How long the first wave took to reach each part of the ocean, one line for each hour up to 24, estimated from the source and the depth of the sea.

The travel times are computed in your browser, which needs JavaScript.

1 to 4 hours
5 to 6 hours
7 to 14 hours
15 hours and more

Computed in your browser the way NOAA’s own travel time maps are: the wave travels at the square root of gravity times the depth, over NOAA’s ETOPO1 depths averaged to a 10 arc-minute grid. Checked against NOAA NCEI’s maps for 21 tsunamis over the first 24 hours, these lines fall within 10 minutes of NCEI’s at half the points compared and within 52 minutes at 9 in 10. They give when the first wave could arrive, not how high it is; bays, harbors and island chains finer than the grid can see it later. Not for use in a warning: see tsunami.gov.

The tsunami

Date: October 4, 1994, 13:22:55 UTC
Source: S. Kuril Islands, Russia
Cause: Earthquake
Earthquake: Magnitude 8.3, 14 km deep
Maximum water height: 10.4 m (34.1 ft)
Runups recorded: 119
Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura): 2.6
Tsunami magnitude (Iida): 2.3
Waters: Ocean
How certain: Definite tsunami
Source location: 43.773° N, 147.321° E

The toll

Deaths: 11 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Injuries: 382 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Damage: Limited (under about $1 million); Severe (about $5 to $25 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Houses destroyed: 2
Houses damaged: 1

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.

On October 4, 1994, a magnitude 8.1 Ms (Mw 8.3) (HRV) earthquake at 13:23 UT in the southern Kuril Islands, Russia, caused at least eleven fatalities, none due to the tsunami, and 242 injuries mostly due to collapsing of a military hospital on Iturup Island. There were 140 people

injured in Japan, including one woman whose car plunged off a collapsed bridge and one man who died of a heart attack. The earthquake generated a tsunami with a height of 4.5-6.0 m at the southern part of Dimitrova Bay, Shikotan Island and 3.0-7.1 meters at Tserkovnaya Bay indicating multiple

waves in the tsunami. Evidence of four separate runup heights also indicates a multiple wave attack.

On the west side of the island the height at Malo-kurilskaya was one to two meters. The tide gage

indicated a subsidence of 53 cm. Eyewitnesses reported the initial wave to be a rise as was confirmed by the marigrams that also showed periods of about 20 minutes. Elsewhere on the island the heights were measured from 8.5 meters at Tserkovnaya Bay to 2.6 meters. On Kunashiri Island

the maximum height was surveyed at 5.3 meters at Petrova Point. On Iturup Island the maximum height was 3.4 meters and on Polonsky Island the maximum height was 4 meters.

At Yuzhno-Kurilsk the heights ranged from 2.5-3.0 meters. In the older part of the town, waves penetrated 200 to 300 meters on the gentle, sloping beach damaging all houses. The wave penetrated 500 meters along the river destroying two bridges and washing away two homes dragging another 300 meters. All moorings were destroyed and two 300-ton fishing boats, five pontoons, and several motorboats were thrown on dry land. None of the fatalities were due to the tsunami as the maximum heights were 1.5-2.0 meters in populated areas. This was fortunate since a warning could not be sent to the area due to the disrupted communications caused by the earthquake.

(above from reference #1315)

Maximum runup height of 10.4 m at the southern part of Dimitrova Bay. (reference #2679)

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	Measured by	First wave, UTC
Kray Sveta Cape, Shikotan	Russia	34	6	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
N. Dimitrova Bay, Shikotan	Russia	40	8.2	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
S. Dimitrova Bay, Shikotan	Russia	40	10.4	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Malokuril'Skaya Bay, Shikotan	Russia	42	2.9	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Shezhkova Bay, Shikotan	Russia	44	8	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Agatova Bay, Shikotan	Russia	48	8.1	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
N. Krabovaya Bay, Shikotan	Russia	48	2.6	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
E.Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan	Russia	49	7.2	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gorobets Bay, Shikotan	Russia	49	3	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
C.Tserkovnaya Bay, Shikotan	Russia	51	8.5	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
W. Dalfin Bay, Shikotan	Russia	57	3	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Zvezdnay Bay, Shikotan	Russia	57	4	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Polonsky Is.	Russia	80	4	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Lovtsova Cape, Kunashir	Russia	96	2	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Krugloe Lake, Kunashir	Russia	99	4.7	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Zelyenyi Is.	Russia	102	1.5	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Yury Is.	Russia	105	1.5	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Baklannyl Cape	Russia	108	3.5	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Ilyushina River, Kunashir	Russia	118	6.4	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Kosmodemianskoe, Kunashir	Russia	120	4.6	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Yuzhno-Kuril'Sk, Kunashir Island	Russia	121	4.7	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Petrova Point, Kunashir Island	Russia	123	5.3	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Goryachly Beach, Kunashir	Russia	125	4.2	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
S. Kasatka Bay, Iturup	Russia	130	3.4	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sernovodsk, Kunashir	Russia	137	2.6	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
N. Kasatka Bay, Iturup	Russia	141	3	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Veslovsky Neck, Kunashir	Russia	141	3.1	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Golovnino, Kunashir	Russia	145	2	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Paltusovo, Kunashir	Russia	152	2.6	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Hanasaki	Japan	152	1.68	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nemuro	Japan	152	1.73	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Utoroko	Japan	189	0.31	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Akkeshigyoko	Japan	216	0.54	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Abashiri	Japan	246	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kushiro	Japan	255	1.03	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Mombetsu	Japan	323	0.44	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Tokachiko	Japan	364	0.45	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Esashiko	Japan	400	0.22	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Urakawa	Japan	412	0.31	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
All of Kuril Islands	Russia	455		Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Tomakomaihigashiko	Japan	466	0.57	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Wakkanai	Japan	483	0.24	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Muroran	Japan	542	0.32	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hakodate	Japan	586	0.56	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hachinohe	Japan	598	0.84	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Miyako	Japan	638	0.64	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Ofunato	Japan	704	0.41	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Ayukawa	Japan	780	0.42	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Onahama	Japan	934	0.47	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Choshi	Japan	1,048	0.28	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Chiba	Japan	1,103	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Tokyo	Japan	1,109	0.13	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Yokohama	Japan	1,134	0.11	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Yokosuka	Japan	1,149	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Tateyama	Japan	1,160	0.16	Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Mera	Japan	1,175	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Mera	Japan	1,175	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Okada	Japan	1,209	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Uchiura	Japan	1,212	0.13	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Shimizu	Japan	1,231	0.07	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Omaezaki	Japan	1,284	0.23	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Maisaka	Japan	1,310	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nagoya	Japan	1,316	0.1	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kinuura	Japan	1,330	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Yokkaichiko	Japan	1,342	0.05	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Yaene, Hachijo Island	Japan	1,354	0.16	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Yaene, Hachijo Island	Japan	1,355	0.16	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Toba	Japan	1,372	0.17	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Owase	Japan	1,442	0.3	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Wakayama	Japan	1,493	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Uragami	Japan	1,506	0.28	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kushimoto	Japan	1,520	0.33	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Komatsushima	Japan	1,544	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Murotomisaki	Japan	1,632	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Uwajima	Japan	1,735	0.07	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Tosa-Shimizu	Japan	1,747	0.26	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hososhima	Japan	1,857	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Chichijima Island	Japan	1,907	0.79	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Aburatsu	Japan	1,943	0.24	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Shemya Island, AK, AK	United States	2,207	0.15	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Okinawa	Japan	2,629	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Adak, Sweeper Cove, AK, AK	United States	2,812	0.15	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hirara	Japan	2,905	0.12	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Ishigakiko	Japan	3,016	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Wake Island, UM	US Territories	3,257	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Unalaska, Dutch Harbor, AK, AK	United States	3,499	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Midway Islands, HI	US Territories	3,584	0.27	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Sitka, AK, AK	United States	5,374	0.04	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Port Allen, Kauai, HI, HI	United States	5,418	0.15	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI, HI	United States	5,433	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Honolulu, Oahu, HI, HI	United States	5,597	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kahului, Maui, HI, HI	United States	5,737	0.44	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kawaihae, Hawaii, HI, HI	United States	5,850	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hilo, Hawaii, HI, HI	United States	5,934	0.16	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Winter Harbor, British Columbia, BC	Canada	6,109	0.1	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 4, 21:47
Tofino (Clayoquot),british Columbia, BC	Canada	6,315	0.03	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 4, 22:19
Port Alberni, British Columbia, BC	Canada	6,380	0.13	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 4, 22:49
Bamfield, British Columbia, BC	Canada	6,382	0.05	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 4, 22:31
Neah Bay, WA, WA	United States	6,442	0.04	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Victoria, British Columbia, BC	Canada	6,517	0.05	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 4, 22:52
Port Angeles, WA, WA	United States	6,531	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Toke Point, WA, WA	United States	6,582	0.03	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
South Beach, OR, OR	United States	6,703	0.05	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Charleston, OR, OR	United States	6,772	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Port Orford, OR, OR	United States	6,790	0.18	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Crescent City, CA, CA	United States	6,874	0.5	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
North Spit, Humboldt Bay, CA, CA	United States	6,934	0.1	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Arena Cove, CA, CA	United States	7,090	0.14	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Port Vila, Efate Island	Vanuatu	7,141	0.19	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 4, 22:48
Alameda, CA, CA	United States	7,264	0.04	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Port San Luis, CA, CA	United States	7,551	0.15	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Santa Barbara, CA, CA	United States	7,681	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Pago Pago, American Samoa, AS	US Territories	7,714	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Santa Monica, CA, CA	United States	7,793	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Los Angeles, CA, CA	United States	7,830	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
La Jolla, CA, CA	United States	7,963	0.03	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Papeete, Tahiti	French Polynesia	9,335	0.15	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Valparaiso	Chile	16,454	0.23	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Talcahuano	Chile	16,529	0.4	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)

Photos

From the NCEI/WDS Natural Hazards Image Database (doi:10.7289/V5154F01). Only photos by the USGS and NOAA, which are public domain, are shown.

Every tsunami in 1994 The 1900s Tsunamis of Russia The earthquake This day in weather history Alerts 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 2230.