Early morning earthquake rattles B.C., no tsunami warnings

Friday, April 24, 2015, 10:33 AM - Preliminary 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Bella Bella, B.C., early Friday morning. No tsunami warnings were issued and it is the second earthquake to strike the province in the last 24 hours.

The preliminary earthquake was detected at 6:56 a.m. PT, an estimated 281 km south of Prince Rupert, B.C., and 643 km northwest of Victoria, with a depth of 10 km. No tsunami warning were issued, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There are no reports of injuries or damage in the affected areas. Updates to follow.

"I felt that one, heard creaks in the walls and then my chair gently swayed," said Facebook user Joan Ewson of Masset, B.C. 

"I woke up as it was shaking the house a bit in Terrace. Thought I was still in a dream at first," added Les Barks of Terrace B.C. 

Amanda Murley jokes, "That's karma for how much the people of B.C., made fun of how much snow we got here in the east coast. All jokes aside though, hope all is OK."  

A series of studies in an April issue of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, stated that Haida Gwaii, B.C., is susceptible to becoming Canada's next likely location for a potentially devastating earthquake and tsunami. 

The findings come on the heels of a government-sanctioned consultation report suggesting the province is falling behind on earthquake preparedness after the October, 2012 7.7 magnitude quake that shook the coast of Haida Gwaii.

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