Warnings of an earthquake and tsunami that may hit the American West Coast

Researchers from Virginia Tech have issued a concerning warning about the possibility of a massive earthquake on the American West Coast facing the Pacific Ocean before the end of this century, with a magnitude ranging between 8.0 and 9.0, followed by a tsunami with a height that could reach 30 meters, capable of wiping cities and vast areas off the map.

According to the British Daily Mail, the sudden drop of the coastline by about eight feet in the event of a disaster will lead to the surge of massive waves capable of sweeping hundreds of kilometers inland. The scenario's danger is heightened by predictions of a sea level rise of 60 centimeters by 2100 due to climate change, which could double the extent of flooding and destruction.

The study, which relied on high-resolution marine mapping techniques, revealed the presence of four giant segments of a geological fault in the Cascadia subduction zone, extending 970 kilometers from the coasts of Canada to Northern California. Geological records indicate that the last earthquake of this type occurred in 1700, and such phenomena recur approximately every 500 years.

Professor Tina Dara warned that any similar event would be a "real disaster for the United States," not only in terms of lives and material losses but also due to the widespread water and air pollution it could cause.

These warnings come just weeks after a strong earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia on July 30, with a magnitude of 8.8, followed by tsunami waves that reached American shores, serving as a vivid reminder of what the ocean's fury can do.