A looming sleeping giant off the coast of California is on the verge of awakening, and scientists warn its massive quake could sink parts of the U.S. in mere minutes.
A magnitude 8.0 earthquake or higher along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, combined with rising sea levels, could cause coastal land to sink up to 6.5 feet, severely expanding flood zones.
Research indicates southern Washington, northern Oregon, and northern California are at the highest risk, with thousands of people, homes, and miles of roads potentially flooded.
This seismic event could devastate ecosystems, infrastructure, and agriculture, worsening with rising sea levels.
Experts say such a catastrophe could happen soon, and the impact will only grow by 2100, making coastal communities increasingly uninhabitable.