Terrifying 1000-foot-tall ‘mega tsunami’ to hit US within the next…, could wipe part of America off the map, cities in danger are…

Unlike smaller tsunamis, which may only produce waves a few feet high, mega tsunamis are on a completely different scale. These waves can soar hundreds even up to 1,000 feet into the sky.

Written by: Analiza Pathak Edited by: Analiza Pathak

Published: May 21, 2025, 3:01 PM IST

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Terrifying 1000-foot-tall 'mega tsunami' to hit US within the next..., could wipe part of America off the map, cities in danger are...

Scientists are raising serious concerns about a possible mega tsunami that could reach as high as 1,000 feet and destroy large parts of the US West Coast. This massive wave could be triggered by a powerful earthquake along a dangerous fault line known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This fault stretches from Northern Vancouver Island in Canada all the way down to Northern California. According to a new study by geoscientists at Virginia Tech, there is a 15 per cent chance that a massive earthquake possibly of magnitude 8.0 or more could strike this area within the next 50 years.

If that happens, cities like Seattle, Portland, and other coastal areas could face devastating consequences. The land could sink by more than six feet, and a towering wall of water could crash down on everything in its path.

Unlike smaller tsunamis, which may only produce waves a few feet high, mega tsunamis are on a completely different scale. These waves can soar hundreds even up to 1,000 feet into the sky. And the worst part? There would be no time to prepare. If this earthquake hits, the tsunami would form and strike within minutes.

“The biggest danger is not just the wave itself, but how quickly everything would happen,” explained Tina Dura, the lead researcher and assistant professor at Virginia Tech. “Coastal land would instantly be at risk, and the recovery could take years if not decades.”

The study warns that the most vulnerable regions are southern Washington, northern Oregon, and parts of northern California. But it’s not just the mainland that’s at risk. Alaska and Hawaii could also be affected because of their own history of earthquakes and volcanic activity.

In Hawaii, volcanic islands have a long history of mega tsunamis caused by collapsing volcanoes. About 105,000 years ago, a 1,000-foot wave crashed into the island of Lanai.

The last time a massive earthquake shook the Cascadia zone was way back in the year 1700,  over 300 years ago. Scientists now believe we could be overdue for another one. If it happens, the consequences could be unlike anything the US has ever seen.