• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

According to scientists, a massive earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone can pose a deadly mega tsunami threat to millions along the United States' Pacific coast. Researchers from Virginia Tech recently found a shocking fact that a magnitude 8.0 or higher earthquake in the area within 50 years. The study was released in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The alert highlights the imperative for disaster preparedness in hazard-prone states such as Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, with Alaska and Hawaii also at risk because they are located in their seismic and volcanic hazard zones.

Mega-Tsunami: What Makes It Different?

In contrast with more common tsunamis that generate comparatively modest wave heights, mega-tsunamis are the result of huge underwater disturbances like megathrust earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. These are extremely rare occurrences that create hundreds-of-feet-tall waves with the ability to travel miles on land, decimating anything that gets in their way.

At the center of this earthquake hazard lies the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a colossal 600-mile fault system running from northern California to Vancouver Island, Canada. The Juan de Fuca Plate is slipping beneath the North American Plate, accumulating colossal geological tension over centuries. If unleashed as a giant earthquake, major areas might subside as much as 6.5 feet, radically increasing the destructive power of the tsunami.

Also read: Brooklyn Bridge Collision: Mexican Navy Ship Crashes Into 141-Year-Old NYC Landmark, 2 Dead, 17 Injured | VIDEO

The research identifies several US states most vulnerable:
• Northern California
• Northern Oregon
• Southern Washington
• Coastal Alaska
• Hawaii Islands

These are either positioned directly over or are geographically very close to active seismic fault lines and volcanic hotspots, and would thus be in the direct line of a possible mega-tsunami should a massive quake hit. The 15 per cent chance described in the study may appear modest, but researchers caution that the potential for damage would be ruinous. Tsunami warning systems, evacuation exercises, and resilient infrastructure are among the immediate steps suggested for communities at risk. Scientists are calling for state and federal governments to boost investment in early warning technology and public awareness campaigns.

Also read: Ride That Saved A Life: US Cab Driver Saves Passenger’s Life After Sudden Brain Haemorrhage