Mega-tsunami warning: These 3 US states could face direct impact in next 50 years
A groundbreaking study from Virginia Tech, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, previously warned that three states – Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington – are at significant risk of experiencing catastrophic mega-tsunamis in the next 50 years. These colossal waves can reach up to 1,000 feet, and could be triggered by massive earthquakes and geological events.
Alaska is under increased threat as it faces dual threats from both seismic activity and climate change-induced landslides. The Aleutian Islands, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, are prone to very powerful earthquakes. A study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has estimated that there is a 9% chance of a magnitude 9.0 or greater earthquake in the Aleutians within the next 50 years – an event that could potentially generate a mega-tsunami with waves reaching up to 75 feet.
Hawaii is also under increased risk as the Big Island's active volcanoes, such as Kīlauea, are susceptible to flank collapses. These are massive landslides in which huge sections of the volcano's flank slide into the ocean, displacing massive amounts of water and generating tsunamis that can affect coastal areas of Hawaii.
Read More | Japanese man flees home with pets mid-breakfast after tsunami alert. Watch
The Cascadia Subduction Zone, stretching from Northern California to Vancouver Island, is a major fault line where the Juan de Fuca Plate is gradually sinking beneath the North American Plate. If a major earthquake hits this region, it could cause coastal land to sink by up to 6.5 feet, expanding floodplains and increasing flood risks. The tsunami resulting from this could send waves up to 40 feet high, affecting communities along the Pacific Northwest coast, including northern California, northern Oregon, and southern Washington.
What is a mega-tsunami?
According to sms-tsunami-warning.com, a mega-tsunami is an extremely destructive and rare phenomenon that may strike the world every few thousand years. 'Huge earthquake-induced rockslides next to bodies of water can generate mega-tsunamis since the massive amount of water displacement increases the wave size more than a submarine earthquake,' the website says. 'Luckily, huge landslides and the mega-tsunamis that they can generate are extremely rare. In most cases, tsunamis caused by rockslides, unlike the ocean-wide tsunamis caused by some underwater earthquakes, dissipate quickly and rarely affect coastlines distant from the source due to the small area of sea affected. However, a massive landslide can give rise to much larger local shock waves (solitons = solitary waves that can travel for long distances without changing their shape or losing energy).'
Read More | From Lituya Bay to Icy Bay, some of the worst tsunamis in US history
The website explained that in some cases, they can end up generating a mega-tsunami that can reach the height of hundreds of meters. 'That is the case when a massive landslide occurs in a limited body of water and the resulting wave is unable to disperse, just as it happened in Alaska where a major rock fall generated the Lituya Bay tsunami. It was the largest tsunami wave ever observed anywhere in the world and it was caused by a rock fall in Lituya Bay, Alaska on July 9, 1958,' it added.
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Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mega-tsunami warning: These 3 US states could face direct impact in next 50 years
Scientists have warned that a potentially catastrophic mega-tsunami, triggered by a major earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), could hit parts of the US Pacific Coast. Researchers from Virginia Tech have said that the Cascadia Subduction Zone is one of North America's most hazardous fault lines. The recent warning takes us back to a May 2025 report that claimed that three US states could face direct impact of mega-tsunamis in the next 50 years. Mega-tsunami warning: These 3 US states could face direct impact in next 50 years (Unsplash - representational image) A groundbreaking study from Virginia Tech, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, previously warned that three states – Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington – are at significant risk of experiencing catastrophic mega-tsunamis in the next 50 years. These colossal waves can reach up to 1,000 feet, and could be triggered by massive earthquakes and geological events. Alaska is under increased threat as it faces dual threats from both seismic activity and climate change-induced landslides. The Aleutian Islands, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, are prone to very powerful earthquakes. A study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has estimated that there is a 9% chance of a magnitude 9.0 or greater earthquake in the Aleutians within the next 50 years – an event that could potentially generate a mega-tsunami with waves reaching up to 75 feet. Hawaii is also under increased risk as the Big Island's active volcanoes, such as Kīlauea, are susceptible to flank collapses. These are massive landslides in which huge sections of the volcano's flank slide into the ocean, displacing massive amounts of water and generating tsunamis that can affect coastal areas of Hawaii. Read More | Japanese man flees home with pets mid-breakfast after tsunami alert. Watch The Cascadia Subduction Zone, stretching from Northern California to Vancouver Island, is a major fault line where the Juan de Fuca Plate is gradually sinking beneath the North American Plate. If a major earthquake hits this region, it could cause coastal land to sink by up to 6.5 feet, expanding floodplains and increasing flood risks. The tsunami resulting from this could send waves up to 40 feet high, affecting communities along the Pacific Northwest coast, including northern California, northern Oregon, and southern Washington. What is a mega-tsunami? According to a mega-tsunami is an extremely destructive and rare phenomenon that may strike the world every few thousand years. 'Huge earthquake-induced rockslides next to bodies of water can generate mega-tsunamis since the massive amount of water displacement increases the wave size more than a submarine earthquake,' the website says. 'Luckily, huge landslides and the mega-tsunamis that they can generate are extremely rare. In most cases, tsunamis caused by rockslides, unlike the ocean-wide tsunamis caused by some underwater earthquakes, dissipate quickly and rarely affect coastlines distant from the source due to the small area of sea affected. However, a massive landslide can give rise to much larger local shock waves (solitons = solitary waves that can travel for long distances without changing their shape or losing energy).' Read More | From Lituya Bay to Icy Bay, some of the worst tsunamis in US history The website explained that in some cases, they can end up generating a mega-tsunami that can reach the height of hundreds of meters. 'That is the case when a massive landslide occurs in a limited body of water and the resulting wave is unable to disperse, just as it happened in Alaska where a major rock fall generated the Lituya Bay tsunami. It was the largest tsunami wave ever observed anywhere in the world and it was caused by a rock fall in Lituya Bay, Alaska on July 9, 1958,' it added.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
1,000 foot mega-tsunami could wipe out large parts of America? These US states face maximum threat from monster wave
Scientists have warned of a potentially catastrophic mega-tsunami that could strike parts of the US Pacific Coast. A significant earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) could cause a potentially devastating mega-tsunami to hit portions of the US Pacific Coast , scientists have said. Stretching nearly 600 miles from Northern California to Vancouver Island, the Cascadia Subduction Zone stores immense tectonic pressure as the Juan de Fuca Plate grinds beneath the North American Plate. According to Virginia Tech researchers led by geoscientist Tina Dura, there's a 15% chance that this fault could unleash a catastrophic earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or higher within the next 50 years. ALSO READ: Mega-tsunami warning: Could a single earthquake drown Seattle and Portland within minutes? New research raises alarm by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Which US states are at risk? Scientists have raised alarms that a 1,000-foot-tall 'mega tsunami' could potentially wipe a large chunk of America off the map – if a strong enough earthquake hits a specific active fault line over the next 50 years, according to a report published in The UK Independent. Coastal states like Washington, Oregon, and northern California can potentially be devastated, while Alaska and Hawaii could also be in danger. Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the mainland America's West Coast are at risk if an earthquake erupts along the Cascadia subduction zone, the study said. Live Events A monster quake powerful enough to wipe out cities like Seattle and Portland could also drag coastal land downward by up to 6.5 feet, researchers warn. In its wake, a mega-tsunami could tower nearly 1,000 feet high—threatening to put millions of Americans in unprecedented danger. ALSO READ: $1,390 stimulus check in your bank account soon? IRS' crucial update for millions of Americans What are mega tsunamis? Ordinary tsunamis produce waves standing a few feet tall, mega-tsunamis are characterized by extreme height, with waves often stretching hundreds of feet into the air. Unlike gradual climate-driven events, this potential earthquake would 'happen within minutes, leaving no time for adaptation or mitigation,' the scientists warned. 'The expansion of the coastal floodplain following a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake has not been previously quantified, and the impacts to land use could significantly increase the timeline to recovery,' said Tina Dura, lead author of the study and assistant professor in Virginia Tech's Department of Geosciences. The new research found the most severe effects would be in southern Washington, northern Oregon and northern California. Alaska and Hawaii, though further from the fault line, are vulnerable because of their seismic and volcanic profiles. ALSO READ: $5,108 Social Security August payment arriving next week: Are you getting the amount this month? Check exceptions There also has not been a quake of large seismic magnitude along the Cascadia subduction zone since 1700. A megatsunami is a colossal wave generated by a sudden, massive displacement of material into the ocean or a lake. Unlike regular tsunamis, which usually rise a few meters high, megatsunamis can tower hundreds of meters, making them far more destructive. They are typically unleashed by catastrophic events such as giant landslides, collapsing glaciers, volcanic eruptions, or even meteorite impacts. Because of their immense size and force, megatsunamis can surge far deeper inland than ordinary tsunamis, devastating everything in their path.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Mega Tsunami warning issued as Cascadia earthquake could impact millions in US, urgent evacuation plans needed
A significant earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) could cause a potentially devastating mega-tsunami to hit portions of the US Pacific Coast, according to scientists. Mega Tsunami warning in US: Coastal states like Washington, Oregon, and northern California can potentially be devastated, while Alaska and Hawaii could also be in danger.(Representational Image) This fault line, which runs around 600 miles from Northern California to Vancouver Island, is where the Juan de Fuca Plate slides beneath the North American Plate, accumulating enormous tectonic stress. Within the next 50 years, there is a 15% risk of an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or higher happening along the CSZ, as per Virginia Tech researchers lead by geoscientist Tina Dura, the UK Independent reported. Coastal states like Washington, Oregon, and northern California can potentially be devastated, while Alaska and Hawaii could also be in danger. What is Cascadia Subduction Zone? The Cascadia Subduction Zone, as per the Virginia Tech research team, is one of the most dangerous fault lines in North America. As the North American Plate is pushed beneath the oceanic Juan de Fuca Plate, tectonic tension accumulates over generations. When this tension is released during a significant earthquake, coastal areas may see abrupt land subsidence, which would significantly expand the size of floodplains and change shorelines practically immediately. This fault last experienced a significant earthquake in 1700, which caused a tsunami that was seen as far away as Japan. Also Read: Trump reacts to Hillary Clinton's surprising Nobel Peace Prize nomination suggestion; 'I might have to start…' A comparable situation The Virginia Tech analysis highlights that a comparable incident today would have significantly more catastrophic consequences because of the region's dense population, sophisticated urban infrastructure, and vital coastal transportation networks. Rapid flooding, according to researchers, may leave little time for evacuation, increasing the toll on people and the economy. The sea level could drop by as much as 6.5 feet. The waves might grow to around 1,000 feet in height, which is much higher than typical tsunamis. Within minutes, cities like Seattle, Portland and towns in northern California could be submerged, leaving miles of roads, thousands of buildings, and millions of people vulnerable to unexpected floods. Research findings highlight need for better evacuation plans In order to simulate the results, the research team conducted tens of thousands of computer models. According to their findings, existing hazard maps understate the threat's magnitude. More houses, towns, and infrastructure are at risk of flooding than previously anticipated. The report emphasizes how urgently better evacuation plans, early-warning systems, and robust structures are needed to reduce the number of possible fatalities. Which areas face highest risk of flooding? According to the Virginia Tech study, the areas at highest risk of flooding from a CSZ mega-tsunami are northern Oregon, southern Washington, and northern California. Although their own seismic activity puts Alaska and Hawaii at risk for tsunamis, their distance from the CSZ makes them less vulnerable right now. Over 170,000 buildings might be demolished, over 30,000 lives could be lost, and over $81 billion in economic losses could occur, as per researchers. Tina Dura, the lead researcher, emphasized that such a catastrophe would not happen gradually. 'The expansion of the coastal floodplain following a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake has not been previously quantified, and the impacts to land use could significantly increase the timeline to recovery,' she stated.
