Magnitude 5.2 earthquake detected off the coast of Vancouver Island

Dec 20 2017, 4:50 am

The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was detected off the west coast of Vancouver Island on Friday.

A bulletin issued late this afternoon indicates the seismic event occurred at 8:46 a.m. and had an epicentre 204 kilometres west-southwest of Port Hardy – near the western edge of the Explorer Plate, where it meets the Pacific Plate. Its depth was relatively shallow at just 10 kilometres.

No damage can be expected given the location and magnitude of the tremor.

Thousands of earthquakes are recorded on the West Coast each year, but only a small fraction have a magnitude of 4.0 or greater.

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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