Volcano could trigger tsunami disaster for New York

August 11, 2004 | Source: The Telegraph

A collapsing volcano could trigger a vast tidal wave capable of wiping New York, Washington and Miami off the map, warn geologists.

Geologists are concerned that an unstable flank of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in the Canaries is in danger of sliding into the sea.

If shaken loose by a volcanic eruption, the huge slab of rock would send a tsunami more than 150 meters high racing across the Atlantic at the speed of a jumbo jet.

The wave would strike the west African coast with a wall of water more than 300ft high in two to three hours. Within three to four hours, a 33ft high wave would smash into the south coast of England, causing immense damage. New York, Washington, Boston and Miami would be hit by successive waves abound 20 meters high. Tens of millions of people could die.