1611 Sanriku earthquake
| Local date | December 2, 1611 |
|---|---|
| Local time | 10:30 |
| Magnitude | 8.1 Ms |
| Epicenter | 39°00′N 144°24′E / 39.0°N 144.4°E |
| Areas affected | Japan: Pacific Ocean, Tōhoku region |
| Tsunami | yes |
| Casualties | About 5,000 |
The 1611 Sanriku earthquake (慶長三陸地震, Keichō Sanriku Jishin) occurred on December 2, 1611, with an epicenter off the Sanriku coast in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The magnitude of the earthquake was 8.1Ms. It triggered a devastating tsunami. A description of this event in an official diary from 1612 is probably the first recorded use of the term 'tsunami'.