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.

Lead researcher Tina Dura explained that such an earthquake could cause coastal land to sink by as much as 6.5 feet, drastically expanding the floodplain and delaying recovery efforts.

In 1700, a similar event caused coastal land to drop and gave rise to “ghost forests” — dead trees still standing in the Pacific Northwest.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake remains the largest on record in the U.S., with a magnitude of 9.2.

If a similar quake hit today, it could impact over 14,000 residents, destroy 22,500 structures, and damage nearly 800 miles of roadway.

The study warns that rising sea levels, projected to increase by three feet by 2100, could further compound tsunami damage.

Experts urge preparedness to protect communities and ecosystems from long-term destruction.