Earthquake Swarm Off Vancouver Island

M15 or Greater Earthquakes in the Past 24 Hours

Magnitude 64 Earthquake Shakes Southwestern Canada

A swarm of earthquakes is currently occurring offshore Vancouver Island at the intersection of the northern Juan de Fuca and Nootka plates. In the past 24 hours, there have been 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater, including a magnitude 6.4 earthquake that shook southwestern Canada near Vancouver on Thursday.

The epicenter of the quake was around 130 kilometers southwest of Port Alice, BC, and had a depth of 10 kilometers. The first and largest quake occurred at 8:08 am PT.

There have been no reports of damage or injuries, but the earthquake has been felt as far away as Seattle, Washington.

Earthquakes are common in this region of the Pacific Northwest, but a swarm of this size is unusual. Scientists are still trying to determine what is causing the swarm, but they believe it is related to the ongoing subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate beneath the North American plate.

Residents in the affected area are advised to be prepared for aftershocks and to follow the instructions of local authorities.