The Shield Wall has been breached in an atomic explosion. This is significant. This uplifted region of solid stone protects northern Arrakis from coriolis storms and sandworms. The Shield Wall makes civilization possible. To facilitate Spice Mining, many spicing stations are built atop the Shield Wall along the edge of the Deep Desert.
Now the sandworms have access to places previously denied to them. This changes the shape of things. Many smaller settlements have been adversely affected, and in some cases wiped out entirely. The question remains — is this the work of this Zantara figure? I suspect other hands at play. It’s a bold move to risk direct Imperial anger by endangering the spice trade. I must formulate a list of suspects.