Earthquakes Canada has confirmed a 3.9-magnitude earthquake occurring north of Shawville, Quebec, during early Tuesday afternoon. Residents in Ottawa, Maniwaki, and Pembroke reported feeling the tremors around 12:36 p.m., with most describing the shaking as mild. The agency noted that earthquakes of this magnitude are commonly felt in the region but typically do not result in significant damage.
Historical data reveals that no local earthquake in the past 127 years has exceeded a magnitude of 5.6, recorded back in September 1944. Previous earthquakes in 2010 and 2013 measured around a magnitude of 5, while major earthquakes are classified as magnitude 7 and above.
One resident, Briony Baxter, shared her experience of the earthquake while having lunch at her Pembroke home. She described feeling her house shake, causing her pets to react anxiously. Despite the disturbance, no items fell off the walls in her home. Baxter emphasized that the tremor distinctly felt like an earthquake, different from routine activities like helicopters passing by.
The earthquake occurred in an area previously impacted by a 5.2-magnitude quake in 2013, according to seismologist Michal Koraj. Koraj highlighted that damage typically begins to manifest around a magnitude of 5 on the seismic scale.