VANCOUVER ISLAND, Canada — A magnitude 6.6 earthquake was recorded off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Thursday morning. United States Geological SurveyIt was followed by several aftershocks of magnitude 4.9 and above, the first of which was initially reported as a magnitude 6.4 but later raised.
The quake was recorded about 130 miles from Tofino, on the northernmost tip of Vancouver Island, just after 8 a.m. No damage was reported from the quake, likely because it occurred offshore.
The quake prompted a warning from the US National Tsunami Warning Center, which posted on social media site X that “no tsunamis are expected” in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.
Two aftershocks triggered the same warning, including a magnitude 5.0 aftershock that struck about 80 miles southwest of Port Alice at 9:18 a.m. and a magnitude 4.9 aftershock that struck about 105 miles southwest of Port Alice at 10:34 a.m.
The magnitude 6.6 earthquake that struck near Port Alice would have set off early earthquake warning systems if it had been on land, but it did not because the shaking did not reach land, according to the Washington Emergency Management Agency.
They also used the opportunity to remind people about the earthquake early warning system. USGS ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning SystemThis is an app that you download onto your phone that will send you a warning when shaking is about to occur. The system uses ground vibration sensors to detect earthquakes that have already started and estimate their size, location and impact. If it detects a large magnitude, the system will send you a warning a few seconds before the shaking starts.
The app is available on all cell phones in Washington and can send alerts through the MyShake app, built-in software on Android phones, or the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system available on all cell phones.
The Washington State Emergency Management Agency (WA EMD) also reminded people that while earthquakes are common in the Port Alice area, this activity is not entirely unexpected.
“This is a seismically active area where three plates meet,” the Western Australian Seismological Service said. “Earthquakes occur all the time.”
