Monster waves 1,000 feet high could hit, cities submerged, deadly earthquake in US within 50 years, warns

 

 

 

Washington: Scientists are warning that massive tsunami waves could hit parts of the US Pacific coast after a major earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ). This fault line, which stretches about 600 miles from Northern California to Vancouver Island, is causing massive tectonic stress as the Juan de Fuca Plate slides beneath the North American Plate, and there is a 15% chance that an earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale or greater will occur in the Cascadia Subduction Zone within the next 50 years, warned Virginia Tech researchers led by geoscientist Tina Dura.

According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, such an event could lower coastal land by up to 6.5 feet, widen plains, and generate tsunami waves hundreds of feet high. According to the Virginia Tech research team, the Cascadia subduction zone is one of the most dangerous fault lines in North America. For centuries, tectonic stress has built up as the ocean's Juan de Fuca Plate has moved beneath the North American Plate. When this stress is released during a major earthquake, coastal areas can suddenly collapse, flood areas increase, and coastlines can shift instantly.

The last major earthquake on this fault was in 1700. That quake was responsible for a tsunami that was even recorded in Japan at the time. The Virginia Tech study said a similar event could have even more devastating consequences.

A mega-tsunami could reach heights of up to 1,000 feet. Coastal cities including Seattle, Portland, and towns in Northern California could be submerged within minutes. Thousands of people, buildings, and miles of roads could be inundated within minutes. The study highlights the urgent need for improved early warning systems, evacuation planning, and resilient infrastructure to reduce loss of life. The study also says the areas most at risk from flooding are southern Washington, northern Oregon, and northern California.

Although Alaska and Hawaii face tsunami risks, they are geographically far from the CSZ. Low-lying areas near the fault line will face persistent flooding, especially as sea levels rise due to climate change by 2100. The study highlights the need to prioritize flood-resilient urban planning, strengthening critical infrastructure, and preparing for long-term displacement scenarios. The study warns that a major earthquake could cause more than 30,000 deaths, damage to more than 170,000 structures, and economic losses of more than $81 billion.