6.4-magnitude quake rattles off Canada, USGS says. Did you feel it in Washington?
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean off Vancouver Island in Canada, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
Its rattling was felt as far as Washington.
The 6.2-mile deep quake hit about 130 miles from Tofino at 8:08 a.m. Thursday, July 11, according to the USGS.
Fifty people from as far away as Seattle; Crescent City, California; and Los Angeles reported feeling the tremor to the agency.
A tsunami warning was not issued after the quake, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
“Light shaking was felt in #Washington state,” one person posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“That’s a big one,” another person wrote.
Over an hour later, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck in the same area off Vancouver Island. It hit at 9:17 a.m. and was also 6.2-miles deep.
A third quake, with a 4.7 magnitude, followed at 10:34 a.m.
Big quakes known to happen in this area
But people shouldn’t be concerned about these quakes, Pacific Northwest Seismic Network director Harold Tobin told McClatchy News in a July 12 interview.
Earthquakes of this magnitude are known to hit in this area, Tobin said.
“(It’s) definitely an active spot that we knew was an active spot,” he said. “This is the most recent example of its activity.”
Tobin said the quakes happen along the Juan de Fuca Ridge, which is on the opposite side from the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where a powerful and damaging earthquake is predicted to happen within the next several decades.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone runs 700 miles long from northern California to British Columbia.
“These earthquakes are scientifically interesting, but not a hazard to people,” Tobin said about the recent quakes off Vancouver Island.
Dozen quakes hit same area in early July
These quakes are just the latest to hit off Vancouver Island.
More than a dozen moderate quakes were recorded rattling the area July 4 and July 5, with the largest one measuring at a magnitude of 5.7, The Bellingham Herald reported.
These quakes likely weren’t felt by anyone, Tobin told The Bellingham Herald.
The quakes may have formed as the seafloor spread on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, or they resulted when an undersea volcano began to form, Tobin told the outlet.
What to know about earthquakes
Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.
Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.
An earthquake measuring between 5.5 and 6.0 may cause “slight damage to buildings and other structures.” However, a quake between 6.1 to 6.9 could cause a lot of damage in a populated area, according to the university.
Earthquakes’ sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but they’re most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
If an earthquake strikes, it’s best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:
If you’re in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you’re in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.
If you’re outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don’t go inside.
If you’re inside: Stay and don’t run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
“Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,” officials say. “If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.”
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.
“There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines,” officials say. “Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.”
Reporter Robert Mittendorf contributed to this story.
This story was originally published July 11, 2024 at 10:02 AM.
