A powerful earthquake struck B.C.’s Sunshine Coast northeast of Sechelt on Friday afternoon, prompting an alert from Canada’s Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system.
At 1:26 p.m., cellphones received the warning message: “Earthquake detected! Drop, Cover, and Hold on. Protect yourself.”
Residents across Metro Vancouver, approximately 100 kilometres southeast of the epicentre, reported feeling the tremors, though not all received the alert. Natural Resources Canada clarified that the EEW system is designed to notify only those in areas expected to experience strong shaking.
“The alert was intended for people within the red polygon on the map. Some outside this zone received it because their device was connected to a cell tower within the EEW area,” the agency stated.
Earthquakes Canada confirmed the quake registered a magnitude of 4.7, downgraded from an initial estimate of 5.1. Light tremors were reported as far as Prince George and Kelowna.
Bill Forbes, a resident near Qualicum Beach, received the emergency alert only after the shaking had subsided, raising concerns about the system’s timing.
Following the quake, Vancouver authorities conducted immediate inspections of city bridges with structural engineers, while BC Ferries briefly halted service at Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals for infrastructure assessments.
No damage reports have been received, according to Earthquakes Canada.
Source: Swifteradio.com
