Scientists warn if a 1,000-ft ‘mega-tsunami’ spurs from an active fault line it could wipe part of America off the map
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How a strong earthquake could put parts of US in the sea
- Scientists are warning that a potential "mega-tsunami" up to 1,000 feet tall could devastate parts of the American West Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii.
- This could be triggered by a major earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone, a fault line stretching from Vancouver Island to California.
- There is a 15 per cent chance of a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake hitting the region within the next 50 years, according to a study.
- Such an earthquake could also cause coastal land to sink by up to 6.5 feet, exacerbating the tsunami's impact.
- Cities like Seattle and Portland are particularly vulnerable, and the event would occur rapidly, leaving little time for response, experts say.