A modest magnitude 4.3 earthquake was felt in Metro Vancouver late this evening at 11:40 p.m.
According to the federal government’s Natural Resources Canada department, the earthquake had a deep depth of 58.7 kilometres and an epicentre 19 kilometres northeast of Victoria and eight kilometres east-southeast of Sidney – right under the Strait of Georgia. It was also felt strongly on Vancouver Island and elsewhere on the B.C. South Coast.
The seismic event was originally classified as a magnitude 4.9 event by the U.S. Geological Survey, but it was downgraded shortly after.
There are no reports of any significant damage at this time. As well, no tsunami alert has been issued – a tsunami is not expected given the magnitude and location.
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SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium lines were shut down for approximately an hour as a safety precaution to ensure the elevated guideways were not damaged by the tremors.
This is the second moderate earthquake to strike the North American West Coast on Tuesday. At 5:48 p.m., a magnitude 4.4 earthquake was centred four kilometres outside of Devore, California – about 48 kilometres east of Los Angeles. There have been a number of smaller aftershocks since the initial event.
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Did the earthquake wake you up tonight? #Vancouver #quakecouver https://t.co/QXwTyhH7QY
— Vancity Buzz (@VancityBuzz) December 30, 2015
No known reports of significant #Earthquake damage in @CityofVancouver. Call 9-1-1 for any emergency, 3-1-1 for other #Vancouver inquiries — City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) December 30, 2015
No impacts to our transmission and distribution systems from tonight’s earthquake.
— BC Hydro (@bchydro) December 30, 2015
Unless you need assistance, do NOT call 911 asking about the #earthquake. — Dan Burritt (@DanBurritt) December 30, 2015
4.8 magnitude #earthquake reported 23km north of Victoria, felt throughout @CityofVancouver
— Van Mayor’s Office (@VanMayorsOffice) December 30, 2015
Earthquake!! Did you feel it? #Vancouver — Vancity Buzz (@VancityBuzz) December 30, 2015
Wow! That felt like an earthquake. I’m on fifth floor. Entire building shook. Luckily for only about 4 or 5 seconds
— Glen Korstrom (@GlenKorstrom) December 30, 2015
#earthquake just now. Anyone else feel it? #Vancouver — Mike Klassen (@MikeKlassen) December 30, 2015
What do you do during an earthquake? @ShakeOutBC has the info! #GetPreparedNotScared pic.twitter.com/UrpsFgVkw6
— Ian Foss (@sarfoss) December 30, 2015
Toby knew what to do during the #yyj earthquake. Drop, cover and hold. pic.twitter.com/06VrWUFCC6 — CowValleyCyclist (@icraib) December 30, 2015