Cascadia Subduction Zone Threat OF a Massive Earthquake and mega-tsunami looming over

Cascadia Subduction zone threat of super earthquake and mega tsunami looming over US west coast

Imagine you are standing on a quiet beach in washington or oregon the air smells of salt waves are lapping in front of you and everything seems normal but underground quietly a tension has been building up for centuries that could burst at any moment and when it does has been building up for centuries that could burst at any moment and when it does the entire coastline of western america could change in minutes that is the frightening truth of the cascadia subduction zone CSZ.

What is the cascadia subduction zone

This fault line is about 600 miles long from northern California to Vancouver Island in canada here the juan de fuca plate is constantly sinking under the north american plate scientist call this process subduction this pressure of a few centimeters every year may seem small but it accumulates for centuries and can suddenly release and lead to an earthquake of 8.0 to 9.0 magnitude.

What happened last time

History is witness to the fact that a massive earthquake occurred here on January 26, 1700. The intensity of this event was so high that its tsunami crossed the Pacific Ocean and devastated the coast of Japan. In the ancient records there this tsunami was called an orphan wave because it was not caused locally but thousands of kilometers away in America

Warning from scientists

According to Virginia Tech geologist Tina Dura and her team, there is a 15% chance of an earthquake of 8.0 or greater in the Cascadia zone in the next 50 years. This can affect not only Washington Oregon, and Northern California, but also areas like Alaska and Hawaii

Experts say that when this tension breaks then

Coastal land can immediately collapse
Sea level can suddenly go dow by 6-7 feet and then a strongs tsunami will arise
Wave heights could reach 1000 feet many times greater than a typical tsunami

A picture of the potential devastation

If such an earthquake struck today, the situation would be far more devastating than it was in the 1700s because the area now
Has a population of millions
Major cities like seattle and portland
Thousands of bridges roads and airports
And the entire coastal network is the backbone of the U.S economy

In a matter of minutes

Law lying areas of Seattle and Portland could be submerged
Home hospitals and schools in towns across Northern California could be reduced to rubble.
Coastal highways and railroads would be cut off crippling rescue efforts
Millions of people would not have time to escape

Why is it even more dangerous?

Lack of time, Scientists believe that a tsunami will arrive within a few minutes of the earthquake, and people will get very little time to reach safe places.

Modern dependency. Today, urban life is heavily dependent on electricity, the internet, and supply chains. A major disaster can shake the entire system

Humans risk millions of lives at risk. This will not only be a natural disaster but also a human tragedy.

Why is it even more dangerous

Lack of time, scientists believe that a tsunami will arrive within a few minutes of the earthquake, and people will get very little time.
Is preparation possible ?
Evacuation zones and warning systems in coastal states will have to be strengthened
Construction of earthquake-resistant buildings and bridges should be a priority.
And most importantly, people should be made aware of where and how to run within a few minutes when the earth shake