Imagine this: a massive earthquake measuring between 8 and 9 on the Richter scale strikes along the US West Coast, followed by a tsunami towering up to 30 meters high! Yes, you read that right — 30 meters! Scientists warn this is not science fiction but a real threat within the next 50 years, with a 37% chance. Welcome to the Cascadia subduction zone, where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate slides beneath the North American plate, creating the potential for a disaster that will leave many breathless.
This zone stretches from the northern part of Vancouver Island in Canada, through the US states of Washington, Oregon, and down to California. If the earthquake hits today, the coastline would drop about 2.5 meters, and the tsunami could wipe out a large part of the US West Coast. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that just in the Cascadia zone, around 5,000 people could die from the earthquake, with the tsunami causing an additional 8,000 deaths.
But wait, there’s more! Climate change is making things worse. Sea levels are expected to rise by 60 centimeters by 2100, making the aftermath even more devastating. Floods will be worse, and damage to key infrastructure along the coast could cost billions of dollars. Scientists at Virginia Tech lead research predicting that the US West Coast will be drastically altered over the coming centuries due to these catastrophic events.
Professor Tina Dura, the lead author of the study, warns: “This will be a catastrophic event. The tsunami will come and it will be devastating.” So, while we go about our daily lives, nature is preparing its worst blow. Are we ready? Or will we wait for a 30-meter wave to literally swallow us whole? Got a hot take or a tsunami joke? Drop it below — maybe laughter is the best survival tool for this apocalyptic scenario!
