How bad would an earthquake be? Washington state scientists take a look
Posted August 28, 2019 11:41 am.
Last Updated August 28, 2019 11:43 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As experts continue to warn west coasters about the possibility of a major earthquake hitting the area, scientists in Washington are taking a closer look.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources ha sreleased a series of videos showing what the Big One could look like.
What would happen if a Magnitude 9 #earthquake hit the Washington coast? Our scientists have modeled a #tsunami and put together this simulation showing waves peaking up to 60 feet and rushing inland to #PugetSound. pic.twitter.com/cVfH4u6MtZ
— Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources (@waDNR) August 28, 2019
Their simulations suggest tsunamis following a 9.0 magnitude quake could top almost 20 metres — or about 60 feet.
The first waves would hit the outer coast in about 15 minutes, then rush into Salish Sea before hitting Victoria, and then head north towards Metro Vancouver and south towards Seattle.