A volcano in the Canary Islands could collapse into the Atlantic Ocean triggering a devastating megatsunami capable of wiping out entire communities, a scientist has warned.
Cumbre Vieja, on the Spanish island of La Palma, is known for its destructive lava flows, toxic gas emissions and thick deposits of volcanic ash.
Volcanologist Professor Bill McGuire has been monitoring the site and believes a massive section of the volcano, known as a flank, is slowly shifting towards the sea.
He fears its eventual collapse could unleash a catastrophic wave.
"Based on extensive studies, I expect this part of the flank will eventually crash into the North Atlantic, launching a megatsunami in the process," McGuire wrote in an article for BBC Science Focus.
There has been fierce debate among scientists over the potential scale of the disaster, particularly whether powerful waves could reach the coast of North America, the Mirror reports.
Computer modelling indicates the catastrophe could generate towering waves of up to 65ft along the US East Coast, swamping coastal communities within just nine hours of the volcano's collapse.
Signs of possible catastrophic impact can be discovered thousands of miles distant in the Bahamas, where scientists have identified massive boulders positioned along the shore.
Experts believe ancient tsunamis created by volcanic collapses transported these rocks across the Atlantic, providing evidence of the extensive reach such waves could achieve.
While a tsunami might traverse the ocean at aircraft speeds once triggered, researchers have emphasised that a volcanic collapse isn't an immediate danger and might not occur for centuries or perhaps a millennium.
"I have no doubt this will be a cataclysmic event, but have no idea when it will happen - it could easily be centuries or even millennia down the line," McGuire said.
The Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge most recently erupted in 2021, with the eruption continuing for 85 days and demolishing over 2,800 structures.
Molten rock flows engulfed houses, highways, recreational areas and agricultural land spanning nearly 12 square kilometres of La Palma, compelling thousands of inhabitants to evacuate.
The most lethal tsunami in documented history occurred across the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004, claiming more than 227,000 lives across 15 nations.
1 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia's coastline, propelling massive waves through coastal settlements in nations including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
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