Magnitude 4.4 earthquake shakes eastern Quebec; Ottawa unaffected
The quake struck Thursday morning in the St. Lawrence River near Mont-Joli, affecting communities from Rimouski to Baie-Comeau.
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A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck eastern Quebec on Thursday morning, June 18, shaking communities throughout the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, and Côte-Nord regions along the St. Lawrence River.
According to Earthquakes Canada, the quake struck at approximately 10:21 a.m. Its epicentre was located in the St. Lawrence River, about 25 kilometres northeast of Mont-Joli. Residents reported feeling the tremor in Rivière-du-Loup, Rimouski, Baie-des-Chaleurs, Baie-Comeau, and Sept-Îles.
No injuries or property damage have been reported. The quake was not felt in Ottawa, unlike a 3.9 magnitude earthquake that struck near Shawville, Quebec, on April 14, about 77 kilometres north of the capital.
Researchers at Carleton University are studying how buildings respond to seismic events. Professor Jeffrey Erochko noted that the Ottawa Valley, extending to Montreal along the St. Lawrence River, sits in a moderate seismic zone. "The difference between the west and the east is that in the east, although the earthquakes we could get can be just as big as the west, but they happen less often," he said. "But it's been a while since we've had a big one."
One of the most vulnerable building components during earthquakes is suspended ceiling systems commonly found in office buildings and schools. The grid-like tiles are often damaged and can both pose a falling hazard and prevent people from evacuating safely during a quake.