Tsunamis, which are sudden movements of water caused by events such as earthquakes, landslides or volcanic eruptions, can sweep across the ocean at speeds exceeding 800 km/h. Larger and more destructive megatsunamis occur when significant amounts of ice, rock or sediment fall into the ocean, creating waves 20 or more stories high.
Notable historical megatsunamis include the 2004 Sumatra tsunami, caused by an earthquake that reached 50 meters (160 feet) high and caused destruction in 14 countries, and the 1958 Lituya Bay tsunami in Alaska, where waves reached 500 meters (1,600 feet).
Recent events such as the Greenland landslide on September 16, 2023, illustrate the risk: Collapsing masses of rock and ice created waves 60 metres high, affecting seismological sensors located 4,830 km away.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
