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Mega Tsunami: Alaska Fjord Rockslide Stuns Scientists
6 May
Summary
- A 481-meter tsunami struck Alaska's Tracy Arm fjord in August 2025.
- The mega tsunami was triggered by a massive rockslide linked to climate change.
- Cruise ships and tourists were narrowly missed by the devastating wave.
In August 2025, a staggering 481-meter tsunami, the world's second-tallest on record, inundated Alaska's Tracy Arm fjord. This immense wave was precipitated by a massive rockslide that plummeted over 1 kilometer vertically onto the South Sawyer glacier. Scientists assert that this catastrophic event, occurring in a fjord frequented by cruise ships, is directly linked to the climate crisis and accelerating glacier retreat.
The dramatic sequence began at 5:26 AM local time on August 10, 2025. While the early hour prevented any fatalities, the fjord typically hosts around three cruise ships daily. Several tour boats, each capable of carrying over 100 passengers, were scheduled to enter the fjord just hours after the landslide. The study in Science highlights that without rapid glacier retreat, the landslide's impact would likely have been far less severe.
Researchers emphasized that landslide-generated tsunamis, particularly in confined bodies of water like fjords, can produce significantly higher runups than earthquake-generated ones. The Tracy Arm event also generated a 36-hour seiche and seismic waves equivalent to a magnitude 5.4 earthquake. This incident underscores the escalating risks in coastal environments due to climate change, prompting calls for enhanced monitoring and risk mitigation measures.
