Scientists Warn of Major Earthquake Risk on U.S. West Coast
New research warns that a massive earthquake along the 700-mile-long Cascadia Subduction Zone could cause coastal land in the U.S. to sink by up to 6.5 feet within 30 minutes, especially if combined with rising sea levels from climate change.
The most at-risk areas include southern Washington, northern Oregon, and northern California. A quake of magnitude 8.0 or higher could more than triple the flood-prone area, exposing thousands of people, buildings, and miles of roads to greater flood risk.