Scientists have found evidence of an unprecedented “megatsunami” [csmonitor.com] off the Cape Verde Islands that occurred some 70,000 years ago.
Caused by sudden volcanic collapse, the 800-foot wave would have engulfed what is now Santiago Island, some thirty miles away. That estimate, which was published today in Science Advances, could prompt scientific community to re-evaluate the threat of catastrophic collapses near coastal communities.
When volcanoes collapse, the resulting landslides can cause tsunamis of varying severity. Previous research proposed a gradual model for volcanic breakdown, which would result in multiple smaller waves.