A significant undersea earthquake has rattled the Pacific Northwest, sending tremors across multiple cities along the US West Coast late on Thursday night.
Details of the Seismic Event
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean at 10.25pm Eastern Time (ET) on Thursday. Its epicentre was located approximately 180 miles off the Oregon coastline. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the seismic activity was followed by a magnitude 3.1 aftershock three hours later, in the early hours of Friday morning.
Residents reported feeling the quake over a remarkably wide area. Shaking was felt in Portland, Oregon, roughly 300 miles from the offshore epicentre. Communities closer to the coast, including Dallas, Glide, and Coos Bay in Oregon, experienced light shaking. The event was significant enough to trigger the region's tsunami alert system, though no major tsunami was reported.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone: A 'Sleeping Giant'
Of particular concern to seismologists is the location of this quake. It occurred along the Juan de Fuca Plate, which feeds into the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This is a massive, nearly 700-mile-long fault line running off the coast from northern California to southern Canada.
Scientists have long warned that this zone is overdue for a major seismic event, dubbing it the 'Sleeping Giant'. Computer simulations indicate the fault is capable of producing a catastrophic magnitude 9.0 earthquake, which would devastate much of the Pacific Northwest, impacting major population centres like Seattle and Portland.
Ongoing Risk and Official Warnings
The USGS has issued a stark warning for the coming days. There is currently a 65 percent chance that more aftershocks will strike the same area over this weekend. The agency predicts that seismic activity could continue for the next seven days.
This event serves as a potent reminder of the powerful geological forces at work beneath the Pacific Ocean. While this magnitude 6.0 quake caused no major damage, it underscores the ever-present threat posed by the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Authorities are urging residents to review their earthquake preparedness plans.
This is a breaking news story. Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.
