Section of California coastline could be at greater tsunami risk

A study says two California coastal cities are at greater risk from tsunamis than previously thought.

The study released Wednesday by the American Geophysical Union examined the flooding risk if earthquake faults in the Santa Barbara Channel area ruptured.

Coastal buildings directly opposite the faults would naturally be at risk.

But a computer simulation of a magnitude-7.7 quake suggests the resulting wave would split, turn and move much farther inland than previously thought – perhaps more than a mile.

Ventura and Oxnard could be hit with a wave 23 feet high.

The study’s lead author, Kenny Ryan of the University of California, Riverside, says the tsunami might penetrate twice as far as the line stated in the official state tsunami plan – which may need to be updated.