NOAA Logo, NOAA Satellites and Information, National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC).

NOAA > NESDIS > NGDC > Natural Hazards
comments |  privacy policy
Hazard Photos Home View Slides

Shikotan, Kuril Islands Earthquake & Tsunami October 4, 1994 Set 2

The first slide set of Shikotan, Kuril Islands focused on damage caused by the earthquake. This second set, depicts much of the tsunami damage that occurred. At Kuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunsashir Island, tsunami heights ranged from 2.5-3.0 m. In the older part of town (fronted by a gentle beach) all houses were damaged by the wave that penetrated 200-500 m inland. The photos and documentation in this set are from the publication entitled Geodynamics of Tectonosphere of the Pacific Eurasia Conjunction Zone. Russian Academy of Sciences, Far East Branch, Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 1997.

Scarp at the top of a large landslide near the settlement of Malokurilskoe, Shikotan Island. The crack is about 350 m in length. This landslide is one of several that resulted from the earthquake. [Photo credit: A. Bobkov.]

A second landslide near the Ptichye River on Kunashir Island. [Photo credit: A. Korablev.]

Ground cracks produced by earth shaking. These lie in front of a partially damaged two-story apartment building on Cheremushki Street, Malokurilskoe settlement, Shikotan Island. [Photo credit: V. Gusyakov.]

The main building of the elementary school in Krabosavodskoe, Shikotan Island, was damaged by the October 4, 1994 earthquake. The foundation of the building was laid on a sloped surface of weak rock. The walls moved off the foundation during the seismic shaking. [Photo credit. V. Gusyakov.]

A seriously damaged wall inside a building of the elementary school in Krabosavodskoe. The cracking extends through the wall in some places. [Photo credit: V. Gusyakov.]

A damaged wall inside the building on Tereshkova Street, Malokurilskoe settlement, Shikotan Island. [Photo credit: V. Kaistreniko.]

An exterior crack in a wall of the middle school building in Malokurilskoe settlement, Shikotan Island. The cracking begins near the roof of the small addition to the building. The lower wall is reinforced by the addition. [Photo credit: V. Kaistrenko.]

The earthquake destroyed a hospital at Goryachiye Klyuchi settlement on Iturup Island. Note that this building had more than one roof height. [Photo credit: A. Korablev.]

An oil trace (behind the barrel) shows the level of tsunami runup at Malokurilskaya Bay on Shikotan Island. The photo was taken one year after the event. [Photo credit: V. Kaistrenko.]

The tsunami carried this vessel 70 m on-shore. Note how the waves have eroded the soil and deposited debris in the foreground. [Photo credit: Yu Korolyov.]

This dock on Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island, was damaged by the tsunami. There are sunken vessels to the left and behind the dock. [Photo credit: A. Klochkov.]

The base of a monument near the shoreline of Yuzhno-Kurilskaya Bay collapsed after the underlying soil was washed out by the tsunami. [Photo credit: A. Klochkov.]

This bridge approach, located 11.5 km to the north of Yuzhno-Kurilsk on Kunashir Island, was washed out by the tsunami. [Photo credit: E. Kulikov.]

On the right side of the picture is a laboratory--a wood frame building that was partially damaged by the tsunami at Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island. [Photo credit: A. Klochkov.]

The flooding area of the tsunami at Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island. The tsunami traveled up the river, destroying the bridge in the foreground. A small building lies on its side just above the destroyed bridge. The isolated house was washed 500 m from its place of origin. Frequently, tsunamis reverse the flow of rivers as they travel upstream from the sea. This causes flooding in low-lying areas near the river banks. [Photo credit: A. Korablev.]

Close-up of house pictured in the previous photo. Portions of the destroyed bridge are in the foreground. [Photo credit: Unknown.]

The tsunami damaged this building located near the shoreline at Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island. Some buildings were washed off their foundations. Note the collapsed fence. [Photo credit: E. Kulikov.]

More buildings damaged by the tsunami at Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island. Flooding destroyed the contents of the buildings as well. [Photo credit: E. Kulikov.]

A building damaged by the tsunami, Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island. Debris covers the ground. [Photo credit: E. Kulikov.]

Another building damaged by the tsunami, Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir Island. Note difference in the effect of the wave on the wood plank building in this picture and the masonry building in the previous picture. [Photo credit: E. Kulikov.]