US about to be hit by earthquake of the century: when exactly?

The country is preparing for a seismic disaster that has been dubbed "The Big One". The earthquake of the century could become a reality in 50 years... The problem? Scientists don’t know exactly when it will occur. 

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and several scientists who have pooled their expertise, this earthquake would be contained within a 240 km-long region, in an area affecting Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois, reports The Daily Digest. This region is home to millions of residents, and the probability of a seismic disaster with a magnitude greater than 6 on the Richter scale occurring there in the next 50 years is 40%. And, "this risk increases over time", says the emergency coordinator for the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Security, Robbie Myers. 

“The Big One” could affect an area 20 times greater than that impacted by earthquakes in California. This is due to the make-up of the Earth’s crust in the centre of the country, explains The Daily Digest. All precautions seem insufficient considering the scale of the disaster, which, according to Robbie Myers, would affect many key infrastructures such as bridges and highways, isolating millions of citizens. 

The arrival of the Big One therefore remains undetermined. 

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: The Daily Digest - Illustration: ©Unsplash)