Earthquakes Canada has reported a 3.9-magnitude earthquake north of Shawville, Quebec, on Tuesday afternoon. Residents in Ottawa, Maniwaki, and Pembroke felt the quake around 12:36 p.m., with most describing it as minor shaking. According to Earthquakes Canada, earthquakes of this magnitude are typically felt in the area but seldom result in damage.
Historical government records show that no earthquake exceeding a magnitude of 5.6 has occurred locally in the last 127 years. Previous earthquakes in 2010 and 2013 registered around a magnitude of 5, while major earthquakes are classified as magnitude 7 and above.
Briony Baxter, a Pembroke resident, recounted feeling her house shake during the earthquake while having lunch. Her pets also reacted, with her dog jumping off the couch and her cat displaying signs of distress. Baxter described hearing noises from the basement during the tremor. Although no objects fell in her home, she was certain it was an earthquake, noting that the sensation was distinct from military helicopter activity common in her area.
The earthquake’s epicenter coincided with an area where a magnitude 5.2 quake was recorded in 2013, as per seismologist Michal Koraj. Koraj explained that typically, damage begins to occur around a magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale.
