";s:4:"text";s:2940:"January 25, 2020 UTC. Epicenter at 48.427, -123.303. Questions and Answers on Megathrust Earthquakes What is a megathrust earthquake? 2020-01-25 22:35:36 UTC at 22:35. Greater Vancouver would likely escape a tsunami in the event of a megathrust earthquake, but the shaking would be prolonged and violent enough to damage buildings, says Bird. A megathrust earthquake is a very large earthquake that occurs in a subduction zone, a region where one of the earth's tectonic plates is thrust under another. In the event of a massive megathrust earthquake, the first warning signs would be the temblor itself. The last earthquake in this zone, in 1700, was recorded by First Nations historical accounts and geological records, telling us that it was massive and caused a tsunami that impacted coastlines as far away as Japan. Greater Vancouver would likely escape a tsunami in the event of a megathrust earthquake, but the shaking would be prolonged and violent enough to damage buildings, says Bird. During the quake in 1700, scientists believe the area may have shaken for several minutes.
Most people don't associate the US Pacific Northwest with earthquakes, but maybe they should. Is Vancouver Island prepared for an overdue earthquake?