Huge abyss in Pacific Ocean’s RING OF FIRE will spark apocalyptic earthquakes and tsunamis

A MASSIVE tear in the Earth’s crust could cause massive tsunamis and mega-quakes, scientists have warned.

The rip in the sea floor runs through the Ring of Fire – a treacherous spot in the Pacific Ocean known for deadly quakes and volcanic activity.

The Ring Of Fire stretches from New Zealand, around east coast of Asia, Canada and the USA and all the way to South

America and has caused several deadly earthquakes and killer tsunami waves that have wreaked havoc on the mainland.

The discovery of just how big the new fault – 60,000 square kilometres in size and off the north coast of Australia – confirmed fears that a huge tremor is imminent.

Experts have been aware of its existence for 90 years but struggled to figure out how the tear in the Earth's crust got there, and how far it stretched.

But they had no idea just how devastating its effect could be on the planet until now.

Australian National University lead researcher Jonathan Pownall said: “Our research found that a 7 km-deep abyss beneath the Banda Sea off eastern Indonesia was formed by extension along what might be Earth's largest-identified exposed fault plane.

Dubbed the Banda Detachment, it formed when one tectonic plate slid under another and sunk the Earth’s crust into its boiling mantle.

Any sudden slips could lead to one of the largest earthquakes in history – the much feared “Big One”.

Thankfully, the find will help prepare for the worst.

Mr Pownall added: “In a region of extreme tsunami risk, knowledge of major faults such as the Banda Detachment, which could make big earthquakes when they slip, is fundamental to being able to properly assess tectonic hazards.”

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