science
2025 Alaska Landslide Triggered 1,500-Foot Runup Tsunami in Remote Fjord
A new study documents a giant tsunami that struck a remote Alaskan fjord last year, pushing water more than 1,500 feet up its sides in an area popular with tourists. Researchers called the event a near-miss and urged greater monitoring to avert future disasters. NPR reported the findings on May 7, 2026.
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A megatsunami occurred in Alaska in 2025, pushing water more than 1,500 feet up the sides of a fjord near Juneau, according to a new study. The giant tsunami in Alaska was a near-miss in a tourist location, the research found. NPR reported that researchers say more monitoring is needed to prevent future catastrophes.
The findings come from work examining the scale of the wave that struck last year in a remote but visited part of Alaska. The NPR article was published on May 7, 2026. It was heard on Morning Edition and written by Rebecca Hersher.
The study underscores the power of the 2025 event, which sent water surging far beyond normal tidal or storm levels in the fjord. Such extreme run-up heights indicate the tsunami's force could have produced catastrophic damage had it struck at a different time or location. Researchers emphasized the need for expanded monitoring of similar geological features in Alaska.
Their call for more monitoring follows the documentation of the megatsunami's reach exceeding 1,500 feet vertically along the fjord walls. The event's status as a near-miss highlights the vulnerability of tourist areas in the region. A giant tsunami in Alaska last year, the study concluded, demonstrated risks that warrant closer scientific attention to prevent future loss of life or infrastructure.
