Tsunami Triggered by Noto Peninsula Earthquake Reached Maximum of 5.8 Meters in Niigata Pref.

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:15 JST, January 27, 2024

The tsunami triggered by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake surged inland in at least 19 locations in Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata prefectures, according to an on-site survey conducted by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The maximum run-up height, or maximum height reached by tsunami on the ground above sea level, was measured to be 5.8 meters in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, on a preliminary basis.

The agency’s Mobile Observation Team surveyed areas in the three prefectures close to tsunami arrival points or that suffered severe damage from Jan. 11 to 20. Based on the locations of debris and waste washed away by the ocean, as well as traces of water left on the walls of houses, the team estimated run-up heights or how high the wave reached above sea level and inundation heights or the heights of water traces.

As a result, the team found that the tsunami run-up heights were 5.8 meters at Funami Park in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, and 4.5 meters at Naoetsu Beach in the same city. The team also found that tsunami inundation heights were 4.7 meters in the Shiromaru district of Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, and 4.3 meters at Iida Port in Suzu in the same prefecture.

At Wajima Port in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, high tidal elevation of about over 1.2 meters was observed, according to the announcement issued by the agency just after the earthquake. The team reportedly did not confirm inundation traces at the port and so they were not able to estimate run-up heights and other data.

“We would like to continue to analyze the mechanism going forward,” an official at the agency’s Earthquake and Tsunami Observation Division said.

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