OREGON EARTHQUAKE SERIES RAISES FEARS OF ‘GREAT EARTHQUAKE’

A series of earthquakes recorded on the Oregon coast has raised concerns among scientists about the imminent arrival of a “Great Earthquake” in the United States. Seismic activity in the Cascadia subduction zone, capable of causing tremors of up to magnitude 9.0, has forced state authorities to introduce new seismic safety rules for all state buildings.

A series of earthquakes recorded on the Oregon coast has raised serious concerns among scientists and the public. Seismic tremors may be harbingers of the “Great Earthquake”, which is predicted to be one of the most powerful natural disasters in U.S. history.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), about ten earthquakes with a magnitude of over 2.5 occurred in the Oregon coast area in the past 24 hours. The strongest quake was a magnitude 5.8 on Monday evening, followed by a 5.1 quake on Tuesday.

The epicenter of the seismic activity is located in the Cascadia subduction zone, where the Pacific Juan de Fuca Plate is subducting under the North American Plate. Experts have long warned that this geological fault has the potential to cause a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, which would affect major cities including Seattle and Portland.
Flooding threat and new safety rules.

Recent research from Virginia Tech University has shown that an earthquake of magnitude 8.0 or greater, combined with rising sea levels, could cause coastal areas to subside by 2 meters in just half an hour. This would increase the flood zone from 35 to 116 square miles, putting more than 14,000 residents and 22,500 buildings at risk.

In response to these threats, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced new seismic safety regulations. All new government buildings must meet the most stringent standards, and existing buildings must be retrofitted by 2060. According to Kotek, this is a “multi-billion dollar project, but if it is spread out over a decade, it will be financially feasible.” Experts remind us that the last major earthquake in this region occurred in 1700, and the average interval between such events is 400-600 years. The current tremors have once again raised questions about the region’s preparedness for a possible disaster.