A 'Big One' earthquake could strike the Pacific at any time in 2018

A 'Big One' earthquake could strike the Pacific at any time in 2018

A SPATE of increased seismic activity across the Pacific Ring of Fire has led to fears a massive tsunami-causing earthquake could be due after a scientific study this week conflicted with previous research. The ring of fire is a chain of volcanoes on a huge arc of fault lines running along the coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, including North and South America, Japan, South East Asia and New Zealand.


 A major "Big One" there of magnitude eight or more could lead to tsunami warnings for Asia and the west coast of North and South America.

It is the most seismically active part of the globe leaving countries in the area most at risk from volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Large earthquakes have struck off Alaska, Japan, and Taiwan recently, while the Mount Mayon volcano in the Philippines also erupted last month.

According to The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR, the Ring of Fire has been "particularly active" this year.

Some scientists believe we have entered a five year period of increased seismic activity.

Roger Bilham, a University of Colorado scientist, said an increased temperature of the earth's core means "the world has entered a period of enhanced global seismic productivity which could last at least five years".

Toshiyasu Nagao, head of Tokai University’s Earthquake Prediction Research Center, said: "The Pacific Rim is in a period of activity.” However, he added that in terms of volcanoes, it was not that unusual.

He added: "In terms of volcanic history, however, the current activity is still regarded as normal."

Earthquake-PacificGetty

A 'Big One' earthquake could strike the Pacific at any time.

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• There are a staggering 452 volcanoes along the 25,000-mile ring which was formed by dense ocean tectonic plates hitting and sliding beneath lighter continental ones.

• The plates made of the Earth's crust move over molten and solid rock, which builds up inside volcanoes as magma.

• In November there were fears of a huge eruption of Mount Agung on Bali in Indonesia.

• Around 140,000 people were urged to evacuate, but the threat level was later downgraded.

• Last month there was a major tsunami warning for the west coast USA after a 7.9 tremor hit off the coast of Alaska.

• Earlier this month, a large quake in Taiwan killed 17 people and left a 12-storey building on a 45-degree angle.

• The latest threat is from Mount Mayon in the Philippines where flowing lava has spread more than two miles. However, some experts claim it is business as usual and the events are not linked.