Thousands of individuals from southern and central Ontario experienced an earthquake late on Tuesday night, as per Natural Resources Canada. The seismic activity, measuring 3.7 in magnitude, was detected by Earthquakes Canada approximately 99 kilometers northeast of Toronto just before 11 p.m. ET.
The epicenter of the “lightly felt” tremor was pinpointed 23 kilometers southeast of Orillia, Ont., occurring at a depth of five kilometers. Natural Resources Canada seismologist Marikah Adams mentioned that about 2,600 people have reported feeling the earthquake, with reports extending from Kingston to Kitchener and more still coming in.
Sarah Cowley, an artist based in Beaverton, recounted hearing a “roaring sound” as her home shook during the quake. Despite the intense experience, there were no visible signs of damage when she checked outside. Notably, Cowley’s husband remained undisturbed and slept through the event.
The earthquake was widely felt, with over 2,000 “Did you feel it?” reports submitted, spanning from Kitchener in the west to Belleville in the east, and reaching as far south as Niagara Falls. While there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, historical data from Earthquakes Canada indicates previous earthquakes in the region, with the most significant being a magnitude 5.5 quake in 1929.
According to Adams, seismic activity is atypical in this intraplate region within the North American plate. The cause of the earthquake remains uncertain, with potential factors including regional stress fields or reactivation of old buried faults along zones of crustal weakness. Geologist Lindsay Schoenbohm described such events as “snap, crack, pop earthquakes,” emphasizing the learning opportunities they provide for predicting future occurrences.
Adams advised residents to remain calm in such situations, highlighting the importance of following safety protocols like “stop, drop, cover, and hold on.” Standing under doorways during earthquakes is no longer recommended, as Schoenbohm explained based on outdated survival anecdotes. Every earthquake event contributes valuable insights for scientists to enhance predictive capabilities.
The earthquake coincided with recent extreme weather challenges in the region, amplifying concerns about natural disasters. Cowley emphasized the need to respect nature’s power and unpredictability.
In a comparison of earthquake reports, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the event as a magnitude 4.1 earthquake at a depth of 11.5 kilometers, slightly differing from Earthquakes Canada’s data. This variance may stem from different monitoring stations or magnitude scales employed. Seismologist Stephen Crane clarified the discrepancies, affirming Earthquakes Canada as the primary information source for residents within the country.
Efforts to reach the USGS for additional insights were made by CBC News.
