California at Risk of Major Earthquake, Expert Warns

A geophysicist has raised alarms about an impending large earthquake in California, stating that the state is “in the crosshairs” following a recent 7.4 magnitude quake in El Cairo and two significant tremors in Venezuela.

Stephen Burns expressed concern that California is overdue for such a disaster, particularly emphasizing Southern California’s vulnerability due to its location on multiple fault lines.

The recent earthquake in Colombia has left over 200 people dead and thousands missing, adding urgency to Burns’ warnings. He noted that the seismic activity in Venezuela could potentially trigger further earthquakes, stating in a recent YouTube live stream, “California is super late.” This raises questions about which parts of California are most at risk.

“In general, this means not only all of California but especially more areas in Southern California are at greater risk right now,” Burns said.

He elaborated that the tremors from Colombia could “stress” geological faults far away, directly impacting the West Coast. Burns believes California could face risks for up to a year due to the effects of the South American earthquake.

“We’re only worried about a year or so, but if we can get through that, perhaps we might start to breathe a little easier,” he remarked.

However, he pointed out the ongoing seismic activity in Northern California, adding, “It’s hard to exclude Northern California. So, really, all of California is in trouble right now.” While the state has managed to avoid significant earthquakes for years, the potential for a major one remains high.

The urgency of his predictions coincides with a troubling new study that has reignited concerns about the San Andreas Fault. Dr. Lucy Jones, a seismologist from Caltech, has warned that a potential quake from this fault could lead to severe and long-lasting consequences across California. Her simulations indicate that it could result in nearly two minutes of violent shaking, deadly traffic congestion, and devastating damage to essential infrastructure.

This fault is particularly significant, being the longest in the state and capable of generating some of the most powerful earthquakes, Jones noted.

Burns has successfully predicted the recent Colombian quake and earlier warned about the Venezuelan earthquakes, both of which released seismic energy that could provoke further tremors. He referenced historical patterns, citing past earthquakes in the Midwest that were linked to subsequent seismic activity in Venezuela, hinting that similar connections could emerge now.

Despite the fears, Burns emphasized the importance of attentiveness to these trends, stating, “When you see two earthquakes happening close together in the same year, they’re linked.” Californians can only hope that these predictions for a major earthquake prove incorrect, but the forecasts leave little room for complacency.

“I don’t think this is an exact science,” he concluded. “There’s an art and a science to this.”