The Associated Press and Canadian news services
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Seismologists say an earthquake struck in the Pacific off British Columbia.
The U.S. Geological Survey said today the 6.6-magnitude quake’s epicenter is 414 miles northwest of Vancouver. There were no immediate reports of damage.
Canadian authorities said the strong earthquake occurred about 7:30 a.m. PST in the Queen Charlotte Islands region north of Vancouver Island.
The agency Earthquakes Canada said it was felt as far away as Terrace and Prince Rupert, but in no area near the North Olympic Peninsula.
It’s not an uncommon event as one happens every few years, said John Cassidy, a seismologist, based in Victoria at Natural Resources Canada.
Today’s quake is not expected to cause any damage or a tsunami but “we can’t rule out a small wave,” Cassidy said.
The quake was followed seven minutes later by an aftershock at the same depth with a 5.7 magnitude, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
“It’s been felt extensively up and down the Queen Charlotte Islands in Sandspit and Queen Charlotte City,” said seismologist Stephane Mazzotti, “but we haven’t had any reports of damage.”
Several aftershocks were felt quickly after the initial earthquake, he said, but seismologists were still determining their magnitudes.
Rod Link, publisher of the Terrace Standard newspaper, told Agence France-Presse that window blinds and picture frames in his office, about 250 miles inland from the epicenter, shook for about 30 seconds.
“Shortly after 7:30 am local time, my window blinds started moving back and forth,” he said. “I have a bit of a fever and at first I thought I was just dizzy from the flu … but then I realized the blinds were really moving.”
