![Seismologists predict biggest earthquake since 1700 [Image by Presidencia de la República Mexicana/ via Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/27/660x290/b_502x220x82/seismologists-predict-biggest-earthquake-since-1700-image-by-presidencia-de-la-republica-mexicana-via-wikimedia-commons_1658601.jpg "Seismologists predict biggest earthquake since 1700 [Image by Presidencia de la República Mexicana/ via Wikimedia Commons]")
In 1700, the Juan de Fuca plate was struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake. According to Independent, the incident completely wrecked the coast of what is now Oregon and Washington, killing an entire First Nation, the Pachena Bay people.
This event is set to occur every 500 years. Seismologists expect the earthquake, or what they call the "Really Big One," to happen soon and are bracing for its impact. A research team from the University Of Washington presented 50 possible scenarios on how the massive earthquake might unfold.
Virtual simulations of massive earthquake
On October 24, a team of researchers from the University of Washington demonstrated the possible outcomes of the predicted earthquake at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America.
The researchers used 50 simulations with various factors to demonstrate every possibility of what may happen when the quake hits. Numerous outcomes, from best to worst-case scenarios, were considered.
One simulation was a scenario of a 100-second temblor. The scenario's length was four times longer than the disastrous 2001 Nisqually earthquake (magnitude-6.8).
Lead researcher Erin Wirth recently highlighted the significance of the team’s ability to leverage technology in order to understand the full scope of the earthquake’s possible outcomes.
This gives researchers a clear understanding of what to expect.
Despite no official date, researchers warn people to get ready
Because there were no seismographs or devices to record the previous quake in 1700, researchers are unsure of when exactly the ‘Really Big One’ will happen, or what its consequences may be. Researchers from the University of Washington stated that people within the areas of Northern California, Washington, British Columbia, and Oregon will most likely be affected by the quake.
According to The New Yorker, the ‘Really Big One’ and its subsequent tsunami is predicted to affect as many as 7 million Americans, mostly along the coastal areas.The authors of the study hope new information of the incoming earthquake will help those in the wake of its potential destruction to prepare for what might come.
Just last September, Mexico was hit with a gruesome earthquake that killed more than 225 people.
The earthquake was disastrous, causing over 40 buildings in just Mexico City to collapse. According to The Daily Mail, at least 21 children died while trapped in elementary schools. The US Geological Survey predicted the disaster's damage to cost the city around 1-10 billion US dollars in damages.
