A 4.7 magnitude earthquake was detected near a village in British Columbia early on Tuesday morning, lightly rattling the Haida Gwaii region but causing no reported injuries or significant damage.
The tremor, which occurred at 5:14 a.m. on Aug. 15, was located 70 kilometres south of Daajing Giids and 222 kilometres southwest of Prince Rupert. Earthquakes Canada noted its depth at 22.4 kilometres on its website.
Residents of Daajing Giids and Skidegate reported feeling the quake, though no substantial shaking was reported. B次元官网网址淚n all cases, it was relatively weak shaking that was reported,B次元官网网址 Natural Resources Canada Earthquakes Seismologist John Cassidy told The Terrace Standard.
According to Cassidy, there were ten reports of residents feeling the earthquake in Daajing Giids, adding that the region is one of the most seismically active parts of Canada. The quakeB次元官网网址檚 characteristics suggest it could be an aftershock of the 2012 magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 in the same region and itB次元官网网址檚 the same type of movement along the fault,B次元官网网址 Cassidy explained. B次元官网网址淚t looks more like the type of earthquakes we saw back in 2012,B次元官网网址 differing from the type of movement along the Queen Charlotte Fault offshore of Haida Gwaii.
Cassidy mentioned that little clusters of earthquakes are common in the region. Daily tremors usually fall in the magnitude 2-3 range and go unfelt, but those reaching the 4-4.5 range are often noticeable.
Though it could be a later aftershock, Cassidy stressed that this doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean anything more substantial is looming, as predicting long-term earthquake patterns remains nearly impossible. B次元官网网址淭he most likely scenario is that there will be perhaps a few more small aftershocks, similar to the small ones that followed in the minutes after the earthquake,B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淭here could also be none, or even a larger earthquake, but the region is always susceptible to larger earthquakes.B次元官网网址
The Haida Gwaii region sees seismic activity daily, including some of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest quakes. This event serves as a timely reminder to be prepared and vigilant.
Cassidy emphasized the importance of having a preparedness kit and staying informed through sources like Shakeout BC and Emergency Info BC. Reflecting on the 2012 quake and its thousands of aftershocks, Cassidy concluded, B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檙e seeing today means things always fluctuate a little bit. In some weeks, youB次元官网网址檒l see more earthquakes than in other weeks, but what weB次元官网网址檙e seeing is pretty much back to the normal rate of earthquakes in the area.B次元官网网址
Viktor Elias joined the Terrace Standard in April 2023.
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