Scientists say the earthquake fault that runs through the coastal city of Ventura, Calif., can produce strong shaking and dangerous tsunamis, prompting state officials to study whether to revise hazard maps.
The new research shows the Ventura fault is more dangerous than previously thought, capable of quakes as large as magnitude 8 that could spawn a tsunami that begins in the Santa Barbara Channel and affect coastal communities to the south.
A major earthquake on the Ventura fault is estimated to occur every 400 to 2,400 years. The last major quake hit about 800 years ago.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Trump Administration Backtracks on Removing Ocean Sensors 
Flood Insurance Gap Will Squeeze Local Governments and Homeowners, Moody’s Says 
‘We’ll Want Some Proof’: State Farm CEO’s Take on NY Auto Insurance Reforms 
Mississippi Insurance Dept. Top Examiner Named in $90M Credit Union Theft Suit From This Issue
