A barn on the 4000 block of Otter Point Road collapsed after a series of unexplained tremors rumbled through the region on Thursday, March 15.

Barrie Hanslip, owner of the 35-acre property where the barn was located, said the steepled barn tumbled down after a large B次元官网网址渂oomB次元官网网址� and rumble at 11:30 a.m. The powerful tremor was preceded by two smaller shakes around 9 a.m.

Hanslip wasnB次元官网网址檛 home at the time of the collapse, but her niece, Sandra Richardson, said two seconds after the large third rumble, she heard a creak and the barn collapsed.

B次元官网网址淚 thought my aunt was underneath it and was screaming for her, but I ran up to the barn and saw her car was gone,B次元官网网址� Richardson said.

Richardson, whose residence is located adjacent to the dilapidated barn, said the earthquake-like rumbles shook the stove pipe in her home.

Hanslip said although the barn was 50 years old, it wouldB次元官网网址檝e stood erect if left undisturbed.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 fairly old. It was due to come down, but it certainly wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have fallen down on its own. It was well-braced,B次元官网网址� she said.

Alison Bird, seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, said there were no earthquakes in the region during that time. She received a number of calls from other residents who reported shaking.

Sooke fire chief Steve Sorensen also said the fire department received an onslaught of calls, but did not have further information.

Both Richardson and Hanslip said the tremors have been a regular occurrence in the past few weeks.

Concerned residents have been commenting on the unknown tremors on the Discover Sooke Facebook page since January 2012.

According to resident reports, previous rumbles were felt around Saseenos, East Sooke, Whiffin Spit and Otter Point.

Although unconfirmed, residents speculated the tremors are the result of blasts from a company dismantling a dam in Port Angeles across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com