A sobering alert has been raised by researchers from Virginia Tech: three U.S. states—Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington—face a heightened risk of catastrophic mega-tsunamis within the next 50 years.
According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, seismic and geological vulnerabilities across these regions could trigger colossal waves—with some reaching heights as towering as 1,000 feet. The research attributes the risk to distinct mechanisms in each affected region:
• Alaska is especially vulnerable due to the combined threats of seismic activity and destabilizing landslides, exacerbated by climate change and melting glaciers. A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study underscores that the Aleutian Islands could see a magnitude 9.0 or greater earthquake within 50 years, potentially generating waves up to 75 feet high.
• Hawaii faces its own danger from volcanic instability. The active volcanoes on the Big Island—particularly Kīlauea—could experience flank collapses, where massive portions of the volcano slide into the ocean, displacing enormous volumes of water and triggering destructive waves.
• In the Pacific Northwest, the Cascadia Subduction Zone—a roughly 600-mile fault stretching from Northern California to Vancouver Island—poses a major threat. A powerful earthquake in this region could cause coastal land to subside by up to 6.5 feet, dramatically expanding floodplains. Tsunami waves up to 40 feet could then engulf coastal communities in northern California, northern Oregon, and southern Washington.
Though mega-tsunamis are rare—distinct from ordinary tsunamis due to their size and generating mechanisms—they carry devastating potential. Unlike typical tsunamis caused by undersea tectonic shifts, mega-tsunamis often stem from rapid, massive displacements of water triggered by landslides, earthquakes, or volcanic collapses.
The study emphasizes that this looming threat cannot be ignored. The confluence of geological fragility, population density, and underdeveloped disaster preparedness strategies compounds the danger significantly.
In essence, a multi-pronged approach is urgently needed:
Enhanced monitoring of seismic and volcanic activity
Improved tsunami early warning systems
Updated infrastructure and evacuation planning
Public education and resilience-building efforts across high-risk communities
These steps are vital to mitigate the potential scale of destruction that a mega-tsunami could unleash in North America—from western Alaska through the Pacific Northwest and across the Hawaiian Islands.
