Experts Warn of Mega Earthquake and Tsunami Threatening U.S. West Coast
Scientists have warned that an 8.0-magnitude earthquake could strike parts of the U.S. within the next 50 years, triggering a devastating tsunami with waves up to 1,000 feet high. The last such quake in the region occurred over 300 years ago.
The threat centers on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600-mile fault stretching from northern California to southern British Columbia. The study, led by Virginia Tech and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential for massive coastal damage.
Regions at risk include Alaska, Hawaii, and the entire U.S. West Coast, due to their proximity to volatile volcanoes, landslides, and seismic activity.