Very strong earthquake near the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada – NO Tsunami – NO serious damage
Last update: April 24, 2014 at 5:42 pm by By
Update 17:35 UTC : And to complete the story we add a video from CBC where a meteorologist/seismologist explains exactly the same what we have reiterated soon after the earthquake struck :
Update 14:55 UTC : The seismogram from this earthquake as it was registered at a station in Oregon.
Update 14:15 UTC : The aftershocks so far :
Update 13:28 UTC : A video roundup (compilation) which we like a lot
Update 09:33 UTC : Lower Mainland videos as compilated by Gloalnews Canada. Nothing spectacular, but some swaying of chandeliers.
Update 09:25 UTC : Pat Quealey from Emergency Management B.C. said they are hearing there may be some minor damage, but no significant damage. However, they are checking into reports that a First Nations lodge may have shifted on its foundations during the earthquake.
Update 05:03 UTC : A word of “Thank You” to all those people who have felt this earthquake and have reported what they have felt to this site. We (the people behind earthquake-report.com) and our many readers from all over the world are really appreciating your contributions. Together we make the best report in the world!
Update 04:38 UTC : The graphic below gives an overview of the historic earthquakes in the greater epicenter area (courtesy British Columbia Institute of Technology)
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On October 28 2012 a Massive (much stronger than today) Magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck along the Queen Charlotte sound. Click here to read our in-depth article of this earthquake.
Update 04:30 UTC : USGS has now decreased the Magnitude by one point to M6.6 (initially M6.7). Recalculations of Magnitudes are a normal aspect of earthquakes (very complicated science). The main movement should have been a North-West to South-East (see beachball below)
Update 04:23 UTC : The map below shows the tectonic plates in the greater epicenter area. The star represents the epicenter below the North American plate. Very strong to even massive earthquakes are not uncommon here due to the strong movement of the plates. Left plate : the Pacific plate – Right plate : North American continental plate – South plate : Explorer plate – The area has really complicated tectonics partly with all kings of faulting along the different tectonic plates.
Update 04:15 UTC : Max Wyss theoretical damage engine does not expect any injuries or fatalities from this earthquake. Always nice to see our expectations confirmed
Update 04:06 UTC : Every experience report we receive from Canadians has also an MMI shaking intensity value as it was perceived by the reporting people. This tels us a maximum average light shaking (MMI IV) which would not lead to any damage. A report from Port Hardy (close to the epicenter) is confirming this.
Update 04:06 UTC : In downtown Vancouver some residents in high rises buildings said they felt their building or chandeliers sway.
Update 04:02 UTC : Historical seismicity map for area around Vancouver Island M6.6 strike-slip quake (courtesy Jascha Polet). The historical Faulting Mechanism map shows mainly a horizontal strike/slip mechanism in the area. Earthquakes are occurring at both sides of the subduction zone.
Update 03:56 UTC : Residents in Port Hardy said the ground shook for about 35 to 40 seconds. The I Have Felt It map below shows only weak to very weak shaking on Vancouver Island.
Update 03:54 UTC : Most reports we are seeing right now are telling fallen objects in houses, nothing seriously. Groceries were knocked off the shelves at the local Overwaitea store. People are saying they felt it as far away as Langley and Kelowna. People are also reporting that the shaking lasted about 20 to 30 seconds.
Update 03:52 UTC : We notice multiple moderate to strong aftershocks in the epicenter area
Update 03:49 UTC : The same area was hit by a M6.9 earthquake in 1918. That earthquake was a little to the South East and below land. The epicenter of this earthquake is on top of the subduction zoner where the Pacific plate subducts the North American plate.
Update : Initial Focal Mechanism of the earthquake as reported by Jascha Polet, seismologist. The beachball shows a strike/slip mechanism (mainly horizontal movement). This was also the case in most historic earthquakes in the area.
Update : The strongest shaking as perceived by people along the Vancouver Island coast should be MMI V or moderate shaking.
OFFICIAL TSUNAMI STATEMENT :
PUBLIC TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 2 NWS NATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER PALMER AK
820 PM PDT WED APR 23 2014
UPDATED EVALUATION PROVIDED BELOW.
…THIS IS A TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT FOR ALASKA/ BRITISH COLUMBIA/ WASHINGTON/ OREGON AND CALIFORNIA…
EVALUATION
* THERE IS NO TSUNAMI DANGER FOR THE AREAS LISTED ABOVE.
* THIS EVALUATION IS BASED ON EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION AND HISTORIC TSUNAMI RECORDS.
Update : Luckily it is evening and winter in Canada right now so that people will be staying away from beaches. Although there is NO tsunami danger, people should not come too close to the shore as strong currents cab always happen.
Update : The earthquake happened in a merely unpopulated part of the island and relatively close to Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, Canada
94km (58mi) S of Port Hardy, Canada
157km (98mi) W of Campbell River, Canada
176km (109mi) W of Courtenay, Canada
201km (125mi) WNW of Port Alberni, Canada
335km (208mi) WNW of Victoria, Canada
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 6.7
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-04-23 20:10:10
GMT/UTC Time : 2014-04-24 03:10:10
Depth (Hypocenter) : 10 km
from: http://earthquake-report.com/2014/04/24/very-strong-earthquake-port-hardy-canada-on-april-24-2014/