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 at around 12:36 p.m., with most describing the shaking as mild. Earthquakes of this size are commonly felt in the area but typically do not result in significant damage.
Historical government records show that no local earthquake in the past 127 years has exceeded a magnitude of 5.6, recorded in September 1944. Previous quakes in 2010 and 2013 registered around a magnitude of 5, while major earthquakes typically have a magnitude of 7 or higher.
One resident, Briony Baxter, recounted feeling her house shake while having lunch in Pembroke, Ontario. She described the tremor lasting for about a minute, causing her pets to react anxiously. Although no items fell off her walls, Baxter was certain it was an earthquake, noting the distinct difference from passing helicopters in the area.
The earthquake occurred in a seismic zone in western Quebec, similar to where a 5.2-magnitude quake was recorded in 2013, according to seismologist Michal Koraj. Koraj explained that damage usually begins around a magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale.
