However, new study published in the journal Science Advances on September 27 suggests that estimates of the potential severity of these earthquakes.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources estimates that the state has roughly 15 significant earthquakes since the 1870s.
Numerous active faults cross the state, with many passing directly beneath its largest cities.
The Seattle Fault Zone runs east-west through the city's center and is the closest fault to Seattle.
In addition, the Tacoma and Olympia fault lines, as well as the Saddle Mountains fault, are not far away from one another.
"These faults can interact with one another and produce larger earthquakes in which their energies are combined.
Bryan Black, associate professor at the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research at the University of Arizona and study leader, told Newsweek.
Black explained that "multi-fault earthquakes occur when two apparently independent faults link up to produce earthquakes.