Shortly after Japan’s 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, there was increased awareness that a similar disaster could happen in British Columbia. This concern was reinforced again by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of Russia on July 29, which led to a tsunami advisory in some B.C. coastal regions.
These events have served as a reminder of what seismologists have long forecast: At an unknown date in the future, B.C. is likely to experience what’s called a megathrust earthquake, up to magnitude 9.4, followed by a major tsunami sweeping areas of Vancouver Island and the B.C. coast.
