Tsunamis are not likely to hit NYC: study
NEW YORK (PIX11) – An 8.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Russia’s Far East on Wednesday, triggering tsunami warnings for the West Coast, Hawaii and Japan.
People in Japan fled to evacuation centers, rooftops and hilltop parks. Traffic was backed up in Hawaii as residents tried to get away from the sea.
Most of the warnings were later reduced to advisories, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem saying that the worst of it is over.
But could New York City get hit with a tsunami? It’s not likely, according to Tufts University researchers.
Tsunamis, defined by NOAA as giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions underwater, are more common in areas near or on tectonic plates. But areas near the East Coast have been hit by tsunamis in the past, according to the Tufts University study.
The study said Newfoundland, which is the most eastern province in Canada, was hit by a tsunami after the 1929 Grand Banks earthquake. While the area is not considered to be along the East Coast, researchers said it gives a look into how tsunamis can even happen in places that aren’t sitting on tectonic plates.
Tsunamis are usually caused by earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.0 or above, according to the study.
Click here to read the Tufts University study.
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.