# Volcano Collapse Could Trigger Megatsunami Targeting US East Coast Professor Bill McGuire warns that a La Palma flank collapse threatens American coastal regions. - **Source:** [Science & tech Articles | Mail Online](https://www.dailymail.com?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490) - **Published:** 2026-11-06 - **Topic:** [science](https://brifing.si/c/science) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/91b51cb3-a55d-46f6-9667-cff8d695281a ## Potential Megatsunami Threat Volcanologist Professor Bill McGuire warns that a catastrophic collapse of the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge on La Palma could trigger a massive megatsunami. This geological event involves the western flank of the volcano breaking away and plunging into the Atlantic Ocean, potentially sending destructive waves toward the United States East Coast. ## Worst-Case Scenario Modeling Computer models suggest that in a worst-case scenario, waves reaching Florida could stand approximately 65 feet high. These waves might arrive just nine hours after the initial collapse occurs. Other estimates indicate that by the time these surges reach the broader US East Coast, they could still measure roughly 33 feet high. ## Geological Instability Factors The concern centers on the volcano's steep western flank, which became partially detached during a 1949 eruption. Research conducted in the 1990s confirmed that this massive rock formation, totaling hundreds of billions of cubic yards, has been creeping seaward at a rate of 0.4 to 0.8 inches per year, increasing collapse risks. ## Mechanisms of Wave Generation A flank collapse generates a tsunami by forcing a massive volume of rock into the sea, displacing water and creating an initial dome nearly 3,300 feet high. Gases seeping through the rock can weaken the interior structure, allowing sections to break off as fast-moving landslides even without an active volcanic eruption. ## Historical Prehistoric Evidence Evidence of past megatsunamis exists, with debris found nearly 980 feet above sea level near the Canary Islands. Researchers have identified at least five such events over the past million years. Additionally, deposits in the Bahamas and Cape Verde islands suggest that destructive waves have historically possessed the power to cross oceans. ## Lessons From Historical Disasters The 1792 disaster at Japan’s Unzen volcano, where a landslide killed 15,000 people, illustrates the multi-stage destruction caused by collapses. Similarly, the 2018 Anak Krakatau event in Indonesia sent a tsunami toward coastal communities in under 30 minutes, resulting in over 400 deaths and widespread destruction of thousands of local homes. ## Scientific Debate and Uncertainty While the potential for catastrophe is clear, scientists continue to debate the exact scale of destruction a future tsunami might cause. McGuire acknowledges that the origin of ancient deposits remains disputed. He emphasizes that while the timing and magnitude are unpredictable, the occurrence of such volcanic tsunamis is a geological certainty. ## Implications for Coastal Safety This warning highlights the vulnerability of coastal regions to sudden geological shifts. Volcanic tsunamis often arrive as a succession of waves, causing repeated flooding rather than a single surge. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for assessing long-term risks to densely populated areas along the Atlantic coast, despite the inherent predictive challenges. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.dailymail.com/sciencetech/article-16221085/megatsunami-cumbre-vieja-collapse-east-coast.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._