Close X
Sunday, November 24, 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

Human activity and climate change cause cascading effects for Arctic ecosystem

Human activity and climate change cause cascading effects for Arctic ecosystem
Most of the planet is covered by oceans, which have absorbed 90 per cenet of the recent warming caused by planet-warming gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Global sea temperatures have been at record highs since April, meterologists report as climate change is linked to more extreme and deadly events. 

Human activity and climate change cause cascading effects for Arctic ecosystem

Canada mulling 'game plan' if U.S. takes far-right, authoritarian shift: Joly

Canada mulling 'game plan' if U.S. takes far-right, authoritarian shift: Joly
Joly added that Ottawa's close political and economic ties to the U.S. means that "we must certainly prepare several scenarios." She suggested Canada has a game plan in mind but wouldn't get into details.

Canada mulling 'game plan' if U.S. takes far-right, authoritarian shift: Joly

NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with 'credible' housing plan

NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with 'credible' housing plan
Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that the federal government is reconsidering international student flows, particularly since some students have been victims of fraud. 

NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with 'credible' housing plan

Thousands of residents around West Kelowna on evacuation alert as fire flares

Thousands of residents around West Kelowna on evacuation alert as fire flares
The Regional District of Central Okanagan posted the evacuation alert for as many as 4800 properties just before 10:30pm, Wednesday, about four hours after the McDougall Creek blaze was spotted 10 kilometres northwest of West Kelowna.

Thousands of residents around West Kelowna on evacuation alert as fire flares

B.C. police seek suspected getaway driver in killing of Sikh temple leader Nijjar

B.C. police seek suspected getaway driver in killing of Sikh temple leader Nijjar
Homicide investigators in British Columbia say they are seeking a third suspect in the killing of Surrey Sikh temple leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down on June 18. Pierotti told a media briefing that the suspected getaway driver waited for the other suspects in a silver 2008 Toyota Camry that was parked near 121 Street and 68 Avenue before and during the killing.

B.C. police seek suspected getaway driver in killing of Sikh temple leader Nijjar

152 affordable homes being built for seniors in Delta

152 affordable homes being built for seniors in Delta
Located at 1054 - 54A St., KinVillage Apartments will have 145 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom homes. All units will be adaptable or accessible, allowing the suites to be easily and inexpensively modified to meet residents’ needs as they age. 

152 affordable homes being built for seniors in Delta