VANCOUVER: A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.6 shook the southern coast of Vancouver Island on Monday evening, though no damage or injuries were reported.
The tremor occurred at 7:17 p.m. in the ocean, approximately 18 kilometers southeast of Port Renfrew and 69 kilometers west of Victoria, according to a statement from the province and Earthquakes Canada. The quake was at a depth of 36 kilometers.
John Cassidy, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, said that hundreds of people in communities including Victoria, Sidney, Sooke, Port Renfrew, and Nanaimo reported feeling the shaking, but most described it as light.
“Even if you’re on top of that earthquake, you’re still 36 km away from it,” Cassidy said, explaining why the shaking was not severe.
Cassidy called the event a “small, friendly reminder” that larger earthquakes can occur. He noted that such incidents off the west coast of the island tend to be farther north, closer to the Tofino area. He added that earthquakes typically have a more serious impact when they reach a magnitude of 5.0 or higher.
The Monday night quake follows other recent seismic activity in the region, including a much shallower 4.1-magnitude quake felt in Greater Victoria in March and a 4.7-magnitude quake near Sechelt that was felt as far away as Prince George.
