A 3.5-magnitude earthquake shook the Strait of Georgia early Friday morning, the second seismic event in over a week for the Greater Victoria and Lower Mainland regions. Although lightly felt, there were no reports of damage. Recent earthquakes in the area include a 3.8-magnitude quake in Haro Strait and a more substantial 4.2-magnitude quake off Vancouver Island, part of ongoing seismic activity in the region.
On Friday morning, a mild earthquake was registered in the Strait of Georgia, marking the second seismic event to impact the Greater Victoria and Lower Mainland regions in a span of just over a week. Occurring shortly after 2 a.m., this quake had a magnitude of 3.5, as reported by Earthquakes Canada. It was localized approximately 18 kilometers west of Delta and east of Ladysmith, occurring at a depth of 65 kilometers. Reports submitted to Earthquakes Canada and the U.S. Geological Survey indicate that the tremors were lightly felt by residents, although there were no indications of damage resulting from the event. Earthquakes Canada further affirmed that no damage was anticipated from this seismic occurrence. Notably, earlier seismic activity included a 3.8-magnitude earthquake in Haro Strait, which was recorded around 4 a.m. on September 26. This particular quake was centered approximately 11 kilometers east of Sidney and occurred nearly 55 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface. It was felt by a considerable number of individuals extending north to Nanaimo and Parksville as well as south into Washington State. Additionally, a more substantial 4.2-magnitude earthquake was documented off the west coast of Vancouver Island earlier in the week, contributing to a series of tremors that have affected southwestern British Columbia over the past month. Given the geological factors—distance from populated areas and depth—this earlier quake was also not expected to be felt widely.
The occurrence of earthquakes in the Greater Victoria and Lower Mainland areas is not uncommon, particularly given the region’s location along the tectonically active Pacific Ring of Fire. Seismic monitoring agencies, such as Earthquakes Canada and the U.S. Geological Survey, actively track and report these events, providing crucial information to the public and authorities. Recent weeks have seen a heightened frequency of earthquakes in southwestern British Columbia, thus attracting attention to the region’s seismic activity and the preparedness of inhabitants to respond to such natural events.
In summary, the recent earthquake in the Strait of Georgia highlights the ongoing seismic activity in southwestern British Columbia, characterized by multiple tremors within a short timeframe. Although the region experienced mild shaking with no reported damage, the frequency of such events stresses the importance of monitoring and preparedness in earthquake-prone areas.
Original Source: www.timescolonist.com
