(OPINION) A growing body of scientific evidence is warning of an impending major earthquake along the Cascadia subduction zone, a vast fault line stretching from Vancouver Island to Northern California.

New research suggests that this seismic threat could reshape the Pacific Northwest, both physically and demographically—sinking land, expanding floodplains, and placing thousands of people and critical infrastructure at risk.

At the same time, several religious voices interpret this looming natural disaster as a harbinger of spiritual transformation, tied to the prophesied era of Redemption.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, led by Tina Dura, assistant professor of geosciences at Virginia Tech, projects devastating effects from a potential megaquake in the Cascadia subduction zone.

The zone, located 70 to 100 miles offshore, has been relatively quiet for centuries, but scientists now warn it may be due for a massive event.

Dura’s team used advanced earthquake modeling and geospatial analysis to assess how such an event could sink coastal land by up to 6.5 feet.

Their research predicts that the coastal 1% floodplain—an area with a 1-in-100 annual chance of flooding—could grow by 35 to 116 square miles. The impacts would be most severe in southern Washington, northern Oregon, and parts of northern California.

If the quake struck today, it could add 14,350 residents, 22,500 buildings, and 777 miles of roadway to the floodplain, doubling the region’s flood exposure.

Essential facilities—airports, hospitals, schools, and wastewater plants—would also be in jeopardy.

While the exact timing of the next major Cascadia earthquake is uncertain, scientists at Oregon State University estimate a 37% chance of a magnitude 8.0 or greater event within the next 50 years.

Historically, the last known major Cascadia quake occurred in 1700, causing a tsunami that reached Japan. Over 300 years later, concerns about a similar or greater event are mounting.

Dura warns that sea-level rise, driven by climate change, will likely worsen the quake’s impact. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts sea levels in the region could rise by up to three feet by 2100, further threatening low-lying communities.

“The immediate aftermath of a major quake would hinder response efforts,” Dura said, noting that long-term effects could render coastal towns uninhabitable.

The Cascadia fault is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile horseshoe-shaped zone that’s home to 90% of the world’s earthquakes and 75% of its active volcanoes.

The region encompasses much of the Pacific Northwest and includes tectonically active areas like California, Alaska, and Japan.

Major subduction zone quakes, like those in Sumatra in 2004 and Japan in 2011, offer grim previews of what Cascadia could experience.

Unlike California, which has robust seismic building codes, Oregon and Washington have expanded urban development with limited consideration for earthquake risk.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has made its stance clear: it’s not a question of if a major Cascadia earthquake will occur, but when.

Beyond the scientific analysis, some rabbis see the looming earthquake as part of a divine plan tied to the Messianic era.

Rabbi Nir Ben Artzi, a prominent Israeli mystic, has been vocal about his belief that natural disasters—earthquakes, volcanoes, storms—are part of God’s purification method.

“The Creator is purifying the world from the filth of the snake,” he said, asserting that the upheaval is preparing humanity for the imminent revelation of the Messiah.

Similarly, Rabbi Yosef Berger of Mount Zion connects natural phenomena to spiritual transformation.

“Just as we saw in Egypt, when God is about to bring redemption, He takes the reins of nature,” Rabbi Berger said, citing Psalms 46, which describes the earth quaking and mountains toppling into the sea—imagery that resonates powerfully with modern seismic fears.

Yuval Ovadia, known for his videos on celestial influences and seismic activity, believes astronomy holds keys to understanding earthbound disasters.

Drawing from Jewish mystical texts, Ovadia notes that the Bible connects heavenly movements to earthly events, such as the stars added to the Pleiades during Noah’s flood.

He contends that scientists should look to the skies, not just the crust beneath our feet, for insight into natural disasters.