West Coast prepares for more tsunami debris

Tsunami debris: Members of the Washington tsunami debris experts team inspect a dock on Dec. 21 that apparently floated from Japan after last year's tsunami. IMAGE

AP Photo: National Park Service. Tsunami debris: Members of the Washington tsunami debris experts team inspect a dock on Dec. 21 that apparently floated from Japan after last year's tsunami. IMAGE

12/26/12

More than 5 million tons of debris was washed into the Pacific after a tsunami struck Japan last year.

LOS ANGELES — The West Coast this winter is bracing for more sightings of debris washed away by the Japan tsunami.

Last year's disaster swept about 5 million tons of debris into the Pacific. Most of that sank. No one knows how much tsunami debris is still adrift.

Flotsam has already washed up in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii this year including small fishing boats, soccer balls and a huge dock. Scientists expect the bulk of the debris to end up in Alaska, Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia. Recent storm activity means debris could also reach the Northern California coastline.

Federal authorities have received more than 1,000 potential sightings of tsunami debris but have only been able to confirm 17 items.

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