Story perspectives

Glacier Retreat Triggers 481-m Megatsunami, Cruises Suspended

5/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

On 10 August 2025 a 64 million-cubic-metre landslide entered Tracy Arm Fjord in southeast Alaska, producing a megatsunami with a 481-metre run-up, the second-largest recorded.
Researchers say the slide was caused by South Sawyer Glacier’s rapid retreat, which lost about 500 metres of ice before the event.
Cruise lines have halted trips into Tracy Arm, prompting scientists to urge broader monitoring and early-warning systems for similar fjord hazards.

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Story summary

On 10 August 2025 a 64 million-cubic-metre landslide entered Tracy Arm Fjord in southeast Alaska, producing a megatsunami with a 481-metre run-up, the second-largest recorded.
Researchers say the slide was caused by South Sawyer Glacier’s rapid retreat, which lost about 500 metres of ice before the event.
Cruise lines have halted trips into Tracy Arm, prompting scientists to urge broader monitoring and early-warning systems for similar fjord hazards.