After the part of an Alaskan mountain crumbled into the sea, a massive 'megatsunami' wave was created, marking the second-tallest ever, reminding the risks posed by melting glaciers, according to scientists. Last year, a giant wave came across a remote fjord in southeast Alaska leading to the destruction in its wake.&nbsp;The event, which went largely unreported at the time, now shows that small earthquakes resulted in a massive landslide. As a result, 64 million cubic metres of rock, the equivalent of 24 Great Pyramids, splashed into the water, creating a gigantic wave almost 500 metres tall. In response, Dr Bretwood Higman, an Alaskan geologist who witnessed the damage at Tracy Arm Fjord, stated that it was "a close call". "We know that there were people who were very nearly in the wrong place," he said. 'I'm quite terrified that we're not going to be so lucky in the future." Massive waves known as megatsunamis occur when landslides, triggered by earthquakes or unstable rock, crash into bodies of water. These events are typically confined to local areas and lose strength quickly. In contrast, ocean-wide tsunamis are usually caused by earthquakes or, at times, underwater volcanic activity. Such tsunamis, like the 2011 Japan disaster, can travel vast distances, striking populated coastlines and causing extensive destruction and loss of life. The largest recorded megatsunami occurred in the 1950s, exceeding 500 metres in height, with the recent event ranking as the second largest. When Dr Higman reached the Tracy Arm Fjord—an Alaskan cruise destination—weeks after the event, he observed shattered trees scattered across slopes and waters, along with large expanses of exposed rock where soil and vegetation had been stripped away.<h3>Vulnerability of Alaska</h3>Alaska is mainly vulnerable to megatsunamis because of its narrow fjords, steep mountains and frequent earthquakes. The new research published in Science indicates that glacier melt due to climate change is making it even worse. Dr Stephen Hicks of University College London stated that the glacier was previously "helping to hold up this piece of rock", and so when the ice retreated, it exposed the bottom of the cliff face, "allowing that rock material to suddenly collapse into the fjord". Stephen's team have studied tsunamis for almost 10 years and is worried about it. "More people are now going to remote areas - often these tourist cruises are going to see the natural beauty of the area to actually learn more about climate change - but they are also dangerous places to be," he added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/1-000-strange-marks-on-a-rock-in-italy-left-hikers-stunned-ancient-underwater-stampede-might-be-responsible-1778069857931">1,000 identical marks on a rock in Italy are from an ancient underwater stampede. Who made them?</a>

A massive 500-meter megatsunami, the second-tallest ever recorded, struck Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord after a landslide dumped 64 million cubic meters of rock into the water. Scientists warn that melting glaciers due to climate change are destabilising cliffs.

After the part of an Alaskan mountain crumbled into the sea, a massive 'megatsunami' wave was created, marking the second-tallest ever, reminding the risks posed by melting glaciers, according to scientists. Last year, a giant wave came across a remote fjord in southeast Alaska leading to the destruction in its wake. The event, which went largely unreported at the time, now shows that small earthquakes resulted in a massive landslide. As a result, 64 million cubic metres of rock, the equivalent of 24 Great Pyramids, splashed into the water, creating a gigantic wave almost 500 metres tall. In response, Dr Bretwood Higman, an Alaskan geologist who witnessed the damage at Tracy Arm Fjord, stated that it was "a close call". "We know that there were people who were very nearly in the wrong place," he said. 'I'm quite terrified that we're not going to be so lucky in the future." Massive waves known as megatsunamis occur when landslides, triggered by earthquakes or unstable rock, crash into bodies of water. These events are typically confined to local areas and lose strength quickly. In contrast, ocean-wide tsunamis are usually caused by earthquakes or, at times, underwater volcanic activity. Such tsunamis, like the 2011 Japan disaster, can travel vast distances, striking populated coastlines and causing extensive destruction and loss of life. The largest recorded megatsunami occurred in the 1950s, exceeding 500 metres in height, with the recent event ranking as the second largest. When Dr Higman reached the Tracy Arm Fjord—an Alaskan cruise destination—weeks after the event, he observed shattered trees scattered across slopes and waters, along with large expanses of exposed rock where soil and vegetation had been stripped away. Vulnerability of Alaska Alaska is mainly vulnerable to megatsunamis because of its narrow fjords, steep mountains and frequent earthquakes. The new research published in Science indicates that glacier melt due to climate change is making it even worse. Dr Stephen Hicks of University College London stated that the glacier was previously "helping to hold up this piece of rock", and so when the ice retreated, it exposed the bottom of the cliff face, "allowing that rock material to suddenly collapse into the fjord". Stephen's team have studied tsunamis for almost 10 years and is worried about it. "More people are now going to remote areas - often these tourist cruises are going to see the natural beauty of the area to actually learn more about climate change - but they are also dangerous places to be," he added. Also read: 1,000 identical marks on a rock in Italy are from an ancient underwater stampede. Who made them?

A massive 500-metre megatsunami, the second-tallest ever recorded, struck Alaska’s Tracy Arm Fjord after a landslide dumped 64 million cubic meters of rock into the water. Scientists warn that melting glaciers due to climate change are destabilising cliffs.

Massive 500-metre 'megatsunami' hits Alaska Fjord after part of mountain collapses

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit the Drake Passage on Friday (Aug 22) at 4:16 PM HST, as reported by the US Tsunami Warning System. The quake occurred at a depth of about 36 kilometers. Located between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, the Drake Passage is a seismically active area due to its complex tectonic setting. Although the earthquake was powerful, authorities in Hawaii confirmed there is no tsunami threat to the islands. The earthquake struck more than 700 km (435 miles) southeast of Argentina's city of Ushuaia, with a population of about 57,000, the USGS said. Earlier, the earthquake was recorded at 8.0 magnitude, but the United States Geological Survey later downgraded it to 7.5.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/2-earthquakes-in-7-minutes-hit-gujarat-s-kutch-1755796821469">2 earthquakes in 7 minutes hit Gujarat's Kutch, no casuality reported</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">EQ of M: 7.4, On: 22/08/2025 07:46:22 IST, Lat: 60.26 S, Long: 61.85 W, Depth: 36 Km, Location: Drake Passage. For more information Download the BhooKamp App <a href="https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0">https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJitendraSingh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrJitendraSingh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfDrJS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficeOfDrJS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Ravi_MoES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ravi_MoES</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Mishra1966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dr_Mishra1966</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ndmaindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ndmaindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/o5tQQ1wIa6">pic.twitter.com/o5tQQ1wIa6</a>&mdash; National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1958719131878138269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/-strong-7-5-magnitude-earthquake-hits-drake-passage-in-south-america-1755838759220/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/-strong-7-5-magnitude-earthquake-hits-drake-passage-in-south-america-1755838759220/embed</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Is there a tsunami warning?</h2>The National Tsunami Warning Center has clarified that there is no tsunami danger or active alert for the Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands area at this time, as stated on its website. While areas closer to the epicentre may be at risk, no tsunami alerts have been issued for more distant Pacific regions at this time. The earthquake struck over 700 km southeast of Argentina’s southern city of Ushuaia, which has a population of about 57,000, according to the USGS.&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-7-magnitude-earthquake-hits-pakistan-a-day-after-5-2-tremor-shook-islamabad-1755668229092">3.7-magnitude earthquake hits Pakistan a day after 5.2 tremor shook Islamabad</a><h3>Earthquake and Ring of Fire</h3>This earthquake and a series of other earthquakes in the past month have raised fresh concerns about increased seismic activity along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region well-known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The recent earthquake in the Drake Passage comes amid a surge in global seismic activity over recent months. On August 17, a magnitude 5.8 underwater quake struck Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province, leaving 29 people injured, including two in critical condition. The epicentre was located 15 kilometres north of Poso district and was followed by at least 15 aftershocks. No tsunami warning was issued. Many of the injured were attending a Sunday church service, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency.&nbsp;Earlier in July, a powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. The quake occurred roughly 74 miles offshore from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 13 miles. It generated tsunami waves up to 13.1 feet in some Russian coastal areas, with smaller waves also reaching Japan and Hawaii.&nbsp;&nbsp;Read More | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/7-ways-japan-manages-earthquake-diasters-really-well-despite-sitting-on-a-volatile-seismic-zone-japanese-quake-manga-prediction-island-preparedness-1751887601630">7 ways how Japan manages earthquake diasters really well despite sitting on a volatile seismic zone</a><h2>Frequently asked FAQs around earthquake&nbsp;</h2><ul><li>How are earthquakes measured?</li></ul>Earthquakes are measured by their magnitude and intensity.Magnitude (e.g., Richter or Moment Magnitude Scale) measures the energy released.Intensity (e.g., Modified Mercalli Scale) assesses the earthquake's effects on people, structures, and the environment.&nbsp;<ul><li>What is the "epicenter" of an earthquake? The epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where the earthquake originates underground, known as the focus or hypocenter.</li><li>Can earthquakes be predicted? No, earthquakes cannot be precisely predicted. Scientists can estimate probabilities in certain regions, but the exact time, location, and magnitude remain unpredictable.</li><li>What should I do during an earthquake?</li></ul>Indoors: Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows and heavy furniture.Outdoors: Move to an open area away from buildings, trees, and power lines.In a vehicle: Pull over safely and stay inside until the shaking stops.&nbsp;<ul><li>Can earthquakes cause tsunamis? Yes. Undersea earthquakes, especially those with a magnitude above 7.5, can displace large volumes of water and trigger tsunamis.</li></ul>

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Drake Passage at 4:16 PM HST, 36 km deep. Located between South America and Antarctica, the area is prone to quakes. Despite the quake’s strength, Hawaii faces no tsunami threat. Nearby Pacific areas may be at risk, but no warnings are currently issued.

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit the Drake Passage on Friday (Aug 22) at 4:16 PM HST, as reported by the US Tsunami Warning System. The quake occurred at a depth of about 36 kilometers. Located between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, the Drake Passage is a seismically active area due to its complex tectonic setting. Although the earthquake was powerful, authorities in Hawaii confirmed there is no tsunami threat to the islands. The earthquake struck more than 700 km (435 miles) southeast of Argentina's city of Ushuaia, with a population of about 57,000, the USGS said. Earlier, the earthquake was recorded at 8.0 magnitude, but the United States Geological Survey later downgraded it to 7.5. Read More | 2 earthquakes in 7 minutes hit Gujarat's Kutch, no casuality reported

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Drake Passage at 4:16 PM HST, 36 km deep. Located between South America and Antarctica, the area is prone to quakes. Despite the quake’s strength, Hawaii faces no tsunami threat. Nearby Pacific areas may be at risk, but no warnings are currently issued.

Massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake hits Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica: Is there a tsunami warning

tsunamis

Tsunamis, News on Tsunamis, stories on Tsunamis, articles on Tsunamis, Tsunamis stories at Wion, Tsunamis news, Tsunamis latest news

tsunamis

Massive 500-metre 'megatsunami' hits Alaska Fjord after part of mountain collapses

Massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake hits Drake Passage: Is there a tsunami warning