Many residents in southern and central Ontario felt a jolt from an earthquake late Tuesday night, as reported by Natural Resources Canada.
Earthquakes Canada detected a magnitude 3.7 quake occurring roughly 99 kilometres northeast of Toronto just before 11 p. m. ET.
The agency mentioned that the “lightly felt” tremor was located about 23 kilometres southeast of Orillia, Ont., at a depth of five kilometres.
So far, over 2,600 individuals have indicated they felt the earthquake, with reports coming in from places as distant as Kingston to Kitchener, according to seismologist Marikah Adams from Natural Resources Canada.
A “roaring sound” filled her home the instant the quake hit, shared Sarah Cowley, an artist from Beaverton.
“Now I live in an old home. It’s 120 years old. It’s sturdy, but all the floors were shaking,” she explained while noting that everything seemed normal when she looked out her window for fallen trees or damage.
Cowley noted that although she was shaken by what happened, her husband slept through it all without waking up.
The site’s “Did you feel it?” link received around 2,000 submissions reporting feelings of the rumble spanning from Kitchener on the west side through Toronto and eastward to Belleville, reaching down south to Niagara Falls.
No immediate updates have been provided regarding damage or injuries; however, statistics show that two earthquakes of similar size occurred in this same area within the last quarter-century, with the largest being a magnitude 5.5 event back in 1929.
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Sarah Cowley, a Beaverton, Ont.-based artist said she heard a “roaring” sound when the earthquake struck. (CBC)
While such earthquakes may be uncommon in this area, Adams believes it serves as an important reminder that they can happen anywhere and there’s no need for panic.
“A good thing to remember if you do experience an earthquake is to stop, drop, cover and hold on,” she advised while suggesting those indoors should take shelter under sturdy furniture and anyone outside should keep their distance from buildings.
Schoenbohm stated it’s no longer recommended for people to stand beneath doorways during quakes-a practice based on tales of someone who supposedly survived by doing so.
She mentioned each earthquake offers scientists valuable learning opportunities which help them forecast future events.
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Why you shouldn’t run outside during an earthquakeIf you’re one of those who rushed outside during last week’s B. C. quake you’re not alone; however it’s not considered safe behavior-here’s why.
Social media lit up with users commenting on how this quake adds another challenge for a region already dealing with severe snow and cold weather recently.
For Cowley , these recent events serve as reminders about respecting nature “and what she is capable of doing.”
“There are some things we can control , and some things we can’t ,” she reflected.
U. S. versus Canada earthquake reports
The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified Tuesday’s incident as a magnitude 4.1 quake occurring at a depth of approximately 11.5 kilometers – numbers differing slightly from those reported by Earthquakes Canada.
This discrepancy may arise because different stations were used for locating data or due varied magnitude scales , stated seismologist Stephen Crane from Natural Resources Canada.
He explained USGS lacks access data stations collecting information within Canada utilizing distinct measurement systems instead.
What caused the quake?
This region doesn’t usually experience seismic activity since it’s located in an intraplate area within the North American plate, Adams pointed out. “We don’t know if there’s going to be any follow-up events, but it’s highly unlikely,” she added. The reasons behind earthquakes here aren’t fully understood compared to areas near tectonic plate boundaries; however, Adams suggested it could stem from regional stress fields or previously buried faults reactivating along zones with crustal weaknesses. Lindsay Schoenbohm, a geologist and associate producer at University of Toronto explained that pressure can accumulate over time near old faults or hidden cracks in tectonic plates and release energy resulting in “crackles.” She referred to these minor occurrences as “snap, crack, pop earthquakes.”WATCH | What to do when there’s an earthquake:
Why you shouldn’t run outside during an earthquakeIf you’re one of those who rushed outside during last week’s B. C. quake you’re not alone; however it’s not considered safe behavior-here’s why.
Social media lit up with users commenting on how this quake adds another challenge for a region already dealing with severe snow and cold weather recently.
For Cowley , these recent events serve as reminders about respecting nature “and what she is capable of doing.”
“There are some things we can control , and some things we can’t ,” she reflected.
