Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
In the vicinity of the town of Koga, an eyewitness, walking along a path in
the mountains, saw that at a distance of 2.2-2.3 km from the shore the water be-
came turbid, while farther away the sea was clean and blue.
2.
1854, December 24, around 17 h.
33
.
2
◦
N, 135
.
6
◦
E.
The catastrophic Nankaido earthquake, accompanied by a destructive tsunami.
This was one of the strongest earthquakes at the south of Japan.
Prefecture Wakayama, Tanabe Bay. On December 24 the weather was clear. At
about 17 h a strong earthquake took place. From the sea a boom, similar to cannon
shots, was heard, and then a high wave appeared, that flooded the town and its
surroundings. Everything seemed to be obscured by fog.
3.
1929, May 22, 01 h 35 min.
31
.
8
◦
N, 131
.
8
◦
E.
At the south of Miyazaki prefecture a shock caused noticeable destruction in
Miyazaki and its surroundings. At the same time as the shock a strong boom was
heard, and, according to questionable data, a typhoon passed.
4.
1939, May 1, 14 h 58 min.
39
.
95
◦
N, 139
.
8
◦
E.
A very strong earthquake on the Oga peninsula (Akita prefecture). Houses were
destroyed over most of the peninsula. A tsunami was observed.
According to a fisherman, the fish catch was good before the earthquake in Yusiri,
but afterwards it became very bad.
People, collecting seaweed, said that on Cape Oppa (close to Wakimoto) some
sounds were heard one day before the earthquake at about 15 h, and by the evening
the waves had thrown out onto the beach shell-fish, octupuses, trepangs, crabs, sea-
weed and sea cabbage.
In Wakimoto, the evening before the earthquake, an octupus, trepangs and
sea cabbage were thrown out onto the shore.
5.
1940, August 2, 00 h 08 min.
44
.
1
◦
N, 139
.
5
◦
E,
M
= 7
.
0.
Quite a strong earthquake was felt throughout the entire western part of Hokkaido
Island and at a number of sites of the Soviet seaside. A tsunami was observed, which
caused significant damage.
The tsunami arrived at Haboro. The sea water was very turbid and 300 m from
the shore it acquired a dirty colour.
NAMP'O, MARIANA, CAROLINE, MARSHALL ISLANDS
6.
1850 (without month and date).
20
◦
36
N, 134
◦
45
E.
The American military ship 'Mary', en route from the Hawaiian islands to
Hongkong and being at the point with the above coordinates, apparently hap-
pened to witness an underwater eruption. A moderate eastern wind was blowing
and the sea was calm. All of a sudden, the wind was reduced, and agitation of
the sea started: the temperature of the air increased, and someone felt the smell
of sulphur. Several gusts of wind arrived from different directions, but as soon as
the sails were raised, the wind subsided.
THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO
7.
1653, between June 26 and July 23.
According to one source, not confirmed by others, the vessel 'San-Francisco-
Xavier' en route to Manila, having passed through the San-Bernardino Strait and
cast anchor at Mindoro island, experienced an earthquake that caused storm waves
at sea.
