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Virginia Tech Study Warns of 15% Chance of Cascadia Megaquake Triggering 1,000-Foot Tsunami

New research highlights catastrophic risks to Alaska, Washington, and Hawaii, with limited evacuation time and extensive coastal impacts projected.

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Overview

  • A Virginia Tech study estimates a 15% probability of a magnitude 8.0+ earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone within the next 50 years.
  • Such an earthquake could generate megatsunami waves up to 1,000 feet tall, threatening cities like Seattle and Portland and inundating coastal areas.
  • Coastal subsidence of up to 6.5 feet is expected, expanding flood zones and increasing vulnerability to tsunami impacts.
  • Alaska faces additional risks from glacial melting, which destabilizes slopes and raises the likelihood of landslide-triggered tsunamis.
  • Hawaii's volcanic terrain poses a separate threat, with potential volcanic flank collapses capable of unleashing devastating waves.