Study shows major quakes highly possible in western Canada's

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Study shows major quakes highly possible in western Canada's B.C. and American northwest

www.chinaview.cn 2009-07-21 12:46:20

VANCOUVER, July 20 (Xinhua) -- British and American researchers said Monday that evidence shows large earthquakes could possibly happen in western Canada's British Columbia and American northwest in the future and scientists have underestimated the potential, local daily Vancouver Sun reported.

They said that they studied subsoil samples and sediments from the Alaskan coast and found evidence of major earthquakes 900 years ago and 1,500 years ago. The two earthquakes were even stronger than a magnitude 9.2 quake in 1964, which caused a 12-metre-high tsunami in the Gulf of Alaska and 131death.

The researchers from Britain's Durham University, America's University of Utah and Plafker Geohazard Consultants said that the underlying geology of the region shows a very large and widespread quake is possible.

"Our findings show that a bigger earthquake and a more destructive tsunami than the 1964 event are possible in the future," Ian Shennan, a professor of geography at Durham, who led the study, said in a statement.

The 1964 tsunami spread southward along the coast of British Columbia, American northwestern states of Washington, Oregon and into northern California, University of Utah geologist Ron Bruhn said.

"Our work suggests that the northeastern Aleutian mega thrust has greater earthquake magnitude and tsunami potential than previously thought," he added.

The study was published in the journal Quaternary Science Reviews.