Massive Alaska megatsunami was second largest ever recorded
Researchers say glacier retreat destabilized the fjord wall, letting 64 million cubic metres of rock collapse and trigger the second-largest megatsunami on record.
- On Wednesday, researchers led by University of Calgary geomorphologist Daniel Shugar published a study in the journal Science reconstructing a mega-tsunami triggered by a massive landslide into Alaska's Tracy Arm Fjord on August 10, 2025.
- Rapid warming caused the South Sawyer Glacier to retreat about 500 metres, destabilizing the mountainside and unbuttressing 370 million metric tons of rock that collapsed into the fjord.
- The resulting wave reached about 481 metres, the second-highest run-up ever recorded, as debris fell 1,000 vertical metres into the deep, narrow fjord.
- Cruise lines have suspended routes into the fjord this year, while Shugar described the event as a "good wake up call" given the fortunate absence of vessels near the slide.
- Experts warn that continued glacier retreat and expanding tourism infrastructure increase the likelihood of future disasters, necessitating better slope monitoring and proactive policymaking to mitigate risks.
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47 Articles
Cruise ships at high risk as Alaska's melting glaciers trigger megatsunami
A massive landslide that struck a remote Alaskan fjord last summer triggered a tsunami nearly 500 meters high. This marks the second-highest ever recorded. Scientists warn that the accelerating rate of glacial melt can trigger...
Analysis of 2025 Tracy Arm Fjord megatsunami suggests routes for earlier event detection
Early in the morning of August 10th, 2025, a large landslide triggered a massive tsunami in the Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska – a place frequented by tour boats and commercial cruise ships. In a new analysis, researchers show how this event unfolded and highlight both the growing hazard from similar events and the possibilities for early event detection. Landslide-generated tsunamis can produce extreme, localized inundation far exceeding that …
Tsunami in Alaska Was Second-Largest Ever
It turns out that an enormous tsunami in Alaska last summer was one of the biggest in history. Researchers say a mountainside collapse in August sent 64 million cubic meters of rock crashing into Tracy Arm fjord near Juneau, driving water up the fjord's walls to about 1,578 feet,...
The 482-meter-high megatsunami, which was formed last year in Alaska when part of a mountain collapsed into the sea, is the second highest ever recorded and is a reminder of the risks posed by melting glaciers, scientists announced today.
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