1944 Tōnankai earthquake
| UTC time | 1944-12-07 04:35 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 899647 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | December 7, 1944 |
| Local time | 13:35 JST |
| Magnitude |
|
| Depth | 30 km (19 mi) |
| Epicenter | 34°00′N 137°06′E / 34.0°N 137.1°E |
| Fault | Nankai megathrust |
| Areas affected | Empire of Japan, Tōkai region, Wakayama |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Tsunami | Yes |
| Casualties | 1,223 dead, 2,135 injured |
The 1944 Tōnankai earthquake occurred at 13:35 local time (04:35 UTC) on 7 December. It had an estimated magnitude of 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale (making it the strongest known earthquake of 1944) and a maximum felt intensity of greater than 5 Shindo (about VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale). It triggered a large tsunami that caused serious damage along the coast of Wakayama Prefecture and the Tōkai region. Together, the earthquake and tsunami caused 3,358 casualties.