This Country Could Be Hit By An 'Overdue' 1,000-Foot Mega Tsunami, Warn Scientists

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Last Updated:May 22, 2025, 17:36 IST

A survey warns of a mega tsunami up to 1,000 feet precocious if a beardown earthquake strikes the Cascadia fault, threatening US coastal cities with catastrophic flooding

According to caller research, there’s a 15% accidental of an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude successful the adjacent 50 years, which could trigger 1,000-foot waves on the coast. (AI Generated)

Scientists from Virginia Tech person raised sedate concerns astir a imaginable mega tsunami, which could beryllium triggered by a large earthquake successful the Cascadia subduction zone. Stretching from bluish Vancouver Island to California, this responsibility enactment poses a important seismic menace to the United States.

According to caller research, determination is simply a 15% accidental of an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude oregon higher occurring successful this portion wrong the adjacent 50 years. Should specified a quake occur, waves reaching arsenic precocious arsenic 1,000 feet could batter coastal regions, including cities specified arsenic Seattle, Portland, and adjacent parts of Alaska and Hawaii. These waves could question respective miles inland, overwhelming defences and leaving precise small clip for evacuation.

What Is A Mega Tsunami?

Unlike regular tsunamis, which typically nutrient waves a fewer feet successful height, a mega tsunami results successful waves hundreds oregon adjacent thousands of feet high. These towering waves are typically triggered by important marine events, specified arsenic earthquakes, undersea landslides, oregon volcanic eruptions.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone stretches astir 700 miles, from bluish Vancouver Island down to Cape Mendocino successful California, marking it arsenic the astir seismically progressive portion successful North America.

Cascadia’s Volatile History

In the past 10,000 years, 43 large earthquakes person been recorded successful this zone. The astir caller occurred connected January 26, 1700, a magnitude 9.0 quake that caused important coastal subsidence and a devastating tsunami. According to Tina Dura, pb writer of the study, specified an lawsuit contiguous would effect successful extended coastal flooding, with betterment apt to beryllium agelong and arduous.

Southern Washington, bluish Oregon, and bluish California are expected to carnivore the brunt of the damage, with Alaska and Hawaii besides facing superior risk. Mega tsunami waves could penetrate respective miles inland, breaching coastal defences and leaving residents with precise small clip to evacuate.

A Global Reminder: Lessons From India

The Oregon Emergency Management Department has cautioned that different 9.0 magnitude earthquake, accompanied by a tsunami reaching 100 feet successful height, could again onslaught the coast. Countries similar India, which suffered implicit 200,000 deaths during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, recognize each excessively good the imaginable standard of devastation.

This probe reinforces the captious request for robust catastrophe absorption strategies and preparedness successful coastal areas globally. Ensuring some method and community-level readiness is captious successful mitigating the catastrophic effects of uncommon but devastating events similar mega tsunamis.

Location :

United States of America (USA)

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News world This Country Could Be Hit By An 'Overdue' 1,000-Foot Mega Tsunami, Warn Scientists