Eastern Aleutian Islands Could Pose Hawai’i Tsunami Risk

File photo.

An area along the eastern Aleutian Islands could pose a future tsunami risk to Hawai’i.

The 125-mile stretch of land was previously believed to be an unlikely area to generate earthquakes, but now is believed to be a source of temblors, according to the Associated Press.

Recent field work reportedly done by United States Geological Survey scientists on an island near Dutch Harbor revealed “sand sheets” or deposits of sand lifted off beaches and moved a half-mile inland.

Geologist Robb Witt told the AP that large tsunamis have hit Sedanka Island frequently in geologic terms, about 300 to 340 years.

Hawai’i officials have used the USGS study information to broaden tsunami evacuation zones, according to Witt.