Experts Warn 1,000ft ‘Mega Tsu.ami’

Experts have issued a warning that a potential 1,000-foot “mega tsunami” could severely impact Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast due to their proximity to the Cascadia subduction zone. This zone stretches from Northern Vancouver Island to Cape Mendocino, California. A recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that an earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could trigger catastrophic flooding in northern California, northern Oregon, and southern Washington.

The study estimates a 15% chance of a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake occurring in the next 50 years. Lead author Tina Dura, a geoscientist at Virginia Tech, emphasized that the expansion of floodplains after such an event could delay recovery efforts significantly. She noted that while Cascadia isn’t densely populated, many communities are located in vulnerable estuaries. Dura also warned that the land subsidence caused by the earthquake could have more severe consequences than similar quakes elsewhere.