An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale struck north of Shawville, Quebec, on Tuesday afternoon, according to Earthquakes Canada. Residents in Ottawa, Maniwaki, and Pembroke reported feeling the quake at around 12:36 p.m., with most describing the shaking as mild. Earthquakes of this magnitude are typically felt in the region but rarely result in significant damage.
Historical government records show that no earthquake of magnitude higher than 5.6 has been recorded in the area in the past 127 years. Previous earthquakes in 2010 and 2013 registered around a magnitude of 5, while major earthquakes are typically classified as magnitude 7 or higher.
Briony Baxter, a resident of Pembroke, Ontario, experienced the earthquake firsthand while having lunch at home. She described feeling her house shake, causing her pets to react anxiously. Baxter noted that despite living near Garrison Petawawa, the earthquake felt distinctly different from the usual disturbances in the area.
The quake occurred in a seismic zone in western Quebec where a similar 5.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded in 2013, according to seismologist Michal Koraj. Koraj explained that typically, damage begins to occur at around a magnitude of 5.