A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters has found that a major earthquake could hit the Yukon Territory’s Dawson City as early as now. The region is prone to seismic activity due to the Tintina fault, a 1,000 km-long formation that cuts northwest across the Yukon and terminates in Alaska.
Researchers led by Theron Finley analyzed existing high-resolution imagery from airplanes, satellites, and drones to study the Tintina segment near Dawson City. They found geological evidence of large earthquakes occurring in recent geological history, including fault scarp ridges that indicate long series of earthquakes 2.6 million years ago and 132,000 years ago.
The study suggests that the fault is accumulating strain at a rate of 0.2-0.8 mm per year, which could lead to a significant earthquake when released. The estimated magnitude 7.5 quake would put it on par with some of history’s largest temblors, including China’s Tangshan event and Haiti’s 2010 earthquake.
While the exact timing is impossible to predict, the researchers warn locals that the long-term risks are real and urge them to prepare evacuation plans and survival kits. With sparsely populated terrain, fewer casualties than in other disaster zones, but still significant damage to local infrastructure, residents of Dawson City should be aware of the potential dangers and take necessary precautions.
Source: https://time.com/7306264/tintina-earthquake-fault-line-study