- University of Hawaiʻi researchers warn that California's San Andreas Fault has reached its highest stress level in 1,000 years.
- The intertwined San Jacinto Fault is also in a critically loaded state, with both fault systems capable of a large, simultaneous rupture.
- The Cajon Pass may act as an 'earthquake gate,' potentially allowing a combined rupture of both faults, threatening millions in cities like Los Angeles.
- Researchers used physics-based computer modeling and 1,000 years of earthquake data to simulate the stress, though earthquake prediction is not yet possible.
- The findings are crucial for emergency preparation efforts, hazard assessments, and infrastructure planning, as there is a high chance of 7.0-magnitude quakes in coming decades.
IN FULL
