Alaska's Close Call: Giant Tsunami Narrowly Misses Hundreds!

2025-08-23 18:00:23.285

A massive landslide in Alaska's Tracy Arm fjord triggered a powerful tsunami on August 10th, 2024. The event, described as "historic" by USGS scientist Dennis Staley, sent a wave 1400ft up the opposite fjord wall and a 100ft tsunami down the inlet. Kayakers Sasha Calvey and others narrowly escaped, losing gear but surviving due to the low tide. A tour boat also avoided the tsunami due to inclement weather. The event occurred hours before multiple tour boats and cruise ships were scheduled to visit the area, carrying hundreds of passengers. Scientists believe the landslide, estimated at up to 100 million cubic meters of rock, was likely caused by glacial retreat and thawing permafrost, which destabilizes mountain slopes. While the exact cause of the Tracy Arm slide is still under investigation, similar events near receding glaciers have occurred in recent years, raising concerns about increasing risks due to climate change. Scientists are monitoring other unstable slopes in Alaska, such as the one above the Portage glacier and in Barry Arm inlet, which could also trigger tsunamis. The Tracy Arm event highlights the urgent need for improved monitoring and understanding of landslide risks in areas affected by glacial retreat and climate change.