Can strike-slip (horizontal motion) earthquakes trigger tsunamis?
Yes, approximately 15% of all damaging tsunamis were triggered by strike-slip earthquakes.
This type of earthquake is less likely to trigger a tsunami than one with vertical motion.
The waves are likely generated by associated landslides or motion of a sloping bathymetric feature.
Tsunamis generated by strike-slip earthquakes normally affect regions near the source only.