[Regnum] The United States could face a major earthquake triggered by a tectonic fault running along the coast of three states: California, Oregon, and Washington. This was reported on October 13 by The New York Times (NYT), citing scientific experts.
Experts noted that, despite the well-known, frightening threat of a mega-earthquake along the San Andreas Fault in California, the Cascadia subduction zone is causing even greater concern among geologists.
The key source of stress is the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate. Experts explained that this plate is trapped between two other tectonic plates and is currently experiencing tremendous pressure. This stress could lead to the creation of new faults, which, in turn, significantly increases the likelihood of a catastrophic seismic event in the western United States.
On October 11, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of the Philippines. At least seven people were killed and 11 others were injured. Approximately 8,500 people were affected by the earthquake, many of whom were quickly evacuated to safer areas by rescue services.