Scientists sound the alarm: A ‘mega-quake’ striking the U.S. could be imminent: “We expect something like Japan 2011”

Tina Dura, a geosciences professor at Virginia Tech has published a new study that looks at the risk of major coastal flooding in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California which could be a consequence from two factors happening together: powerful earthquakes and rising sea levels due to climate change.

The Virginia Tech professor said the researchers worry about “the next big event being imminent” since more than 300 years have passed since the last significant earthquake.

“We expect something like the Japan 2011 and Sumatra 2004 earthquakes and tsunamis to occur there,” Dura told Accuweather but later clarified that the next great Cascadia earthquake could be “tomorrow or decades from now”.

“But geologically speaking, we’re well within the window of possibility. The last event was in 1700, and paleoseismic records show these earthquakes recur roughly every 200 to 800 years,” she said.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.