Earthquakes Canada has reported a 3.9-magnitude earthquake located north of Shawville, Que., on Tuesday afternoon. Residents in Ottawa, Maniwaki, and Pembroke felt the earthquake around 12:36 p.m., with most reports indicating weak shaking. According to Earthquakes Canada, earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly felt in the region but seldom result in damage.
Historical government records show that no local earthquake has exceeded a magnitude of 5.6 since September 1944. 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 resident of Pembroke, Ont., experienced the earthquake while having lunch at home. She described feeling her house shake, causing her pets to react anxiously. Baxter mentioned hearing noises from the washer and dryer in the basement, leading to a moment of panic. Despite no visible damage, she was certain it was an earthquake, as it differed from the usual helicopter activity in her area near Garrison Petawawa.
The earthquake occurred in a seismic zone in western Quebec and is in proximity to where a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was recorded in 2013, as noted by seismologist Michal Koraj. Typically, damage begins to occur around a magnitude of 5, according to Koraj.
