Close X
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
ADVT 
National

3 minor earthquakes near Port Hardy

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Sep, 2023 10:40 AM
  • 3 minor earthquakes near Port Hardy

Three minor earthquakes rattled a seismically active area off British Columbia's coast on Sunday without causing any damages or triggering tsunami activity. 

Earthquakes Canada said a 4.0 magnitude quake was registered around 8:20 a.m. local time. Its epicentre was 185 kilometres west of Port Hardy, north of Vancouver Island.

This followed a 5.5 magnitude quake recorded at 4:30 a.m. and another 4.2 magnitude quake recorded about an hour and a half earlier near the same location.

The agency said it is currently monitoring a swarm of earthquakes far off the coast of northern Vancouver Island. There have been more than 30 temblors since Sept. 14, though none have been felt, with the largest being Sunday's 5.5-magnitude quake. 

Andrew Schaeffer, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, said seismic activity in that area is "completely common." 

He explained the quakes took place in a region called the Queen Charlotte Triple Junction, where three tectonic plates meet.

"As a result, we get quite a bit of seismicity in this area," Schaeffer said in an interview Sunday. "Sometimes it comes in swarms, sometimes it's just kind of continuous normal background seismicity."

Schaeffer said it is not possible to predict whether more will occur.

"It's not a function of weather or time of year, just sometimes the swarm will happen. Otherwise it's pretty normal for a magnitude 3.0 to pop off every month, at least, in that area and then sometimes we just get these bursts of activity."

There are no reports of any damage from Sunday's quakes and no tsunami is expected, Schaeffer said.

"For us on the west coast, (earthquakes) are just another reminder that we live in an active earthquake zone and let's be prepared."

He suggested people ensure they have an 'earthquake preparedness kit' on hand and formalize a family emergency plan so they are ready in the event of a natural disaster.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

No illicit drugs in parks

No illicit drugs in parks
The B-C government's drug decriminalization policy has changed to make it illegal to possess illicit drugs near playgrounds, water parks and skate parks. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions says the change is intended to keep drugs and drug users away from what it calls "child-focused spaces," adding to the existing list of excluded spaces that includes schools and childcare facilities.  

No illicit drugs in parks

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down
The British Columbia government says it is ending the state of emergency imposed last month when thousands of residents were chased out of their homes by wildfires.  The government says in a statement the wildfire risk is diminishing in much of the province as temperatures cool, allowing most residents to return home. 

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told
An RCMP expert testifying at Ibrahim Ali's murder trial told the court she has never seen a DNA match as close as the one between the suspect and samples found on his alleged victim — except for DNA matches between identical twins. Forensic biologist Christine Crossman said police investigators were very thorough in their collection and testing of genetic samples from the body of the 13-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing
Former Abbotsford police chief Bob Rich has been appointed to look into the release of a man from British Columbia's psychiatric hospital before the man allegedly stabbed three people in Vancouver's Chinatown. Premier David Eby said Thursday that he has read the BC Review Board report on the accused and wants Rich to determine how the man could have been released, despite being a "really significant danger to the public." 

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says
A senior government source says Ottawa is planning to remove the G-S-T on construction of new rental apartment buildings. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make the announcement today as he wraps up a three-day Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ontario.

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing
The group Sikhs for Justice, which has been staging a series of non-binding votes in several countries on the independence issue, says the first stage of balloting in B.C. on Sunday attracted more than 135,000 voters. It says the second stage will be held on Oct. 29 and will add a second question about whether High Commissioner Sanjay Verma was responsible for the "assassination" of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing