A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Sechelt, B.C., on Friday, shaking homes and triggering emergency alerts across the Lower Mainland but causing no significant damage. Earthquakes Canada initially recorded the tremor at 5.4 before revising it down.
The quake was widely felt from Vancouver Island to Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, with no reported injuries or structural damage beyond cracked drywall and burst pipes. Residents described it as the strongest earthquake they had experienced in years.
“I heard a loud boom, I felt the house shake,” said Jackie Graham of Courtenay on Vancouver Island, initially mistaking it for a fallen tree.
Many people responded by following earthquake drill protocols. At an IGA in Sechelt, staff and customers evacuated. “It lasted what felt like 10 to 20 seconds,” said store manager Derek Bland. B.C. Ferries also briefly evacuated and inspected its Horseshoe Bay terminal before resuming service.
The Canadian Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system sent alerts to affected areas. However, Natural Resources Canada is investigating reports from people who did not receive notifications. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 4.8, highlighting common discrepancies in seismic readings. A minor 1.9-magnitude aftershock followed at 2:40 p.m.
Sheri Molnar, a seismic expert at Western University, noted that Metro Vancouver experiences a “felt earthquake” approximately every decade. She urged residents to stay prepared, emphasizing that a stronger quake remains a possibility. Officials confirmed there was no tsunami threat but encouraged British Columbians to update their emergency plans.
Source: Swifteradio.com
