Thousands of individuals in southern and central Ontario experienced an earthquake late Tuesday night, as reported by Natural Resources Canada. The seismic event, measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale, occurred approximately 99 kilometers northeast of Toronto just before 11 p.m. ET, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers southeast of Orillia, Ont., at a depth of five kilometers.
According to seismologist Marikah Adams from Natural Resources Canada, around 2,600 people have reported feeling the tremor from locations as far as Kingston to Kitchener, with more reports still incoming. Sarah Cowley, an artist based in Beaverton, described hearing a “roaring sound” as her home shook during the quake, although no visible damage was observed.
The earthquake was felt by individuals from as far west as Kitchener, across Toronto, east to Belleville, and south to Niagara Falls, as indicated by the numerous reports on the “Did you feel it?” link on the site. While no immediate reports of damage or injuries have been received, historical data from Earthquakes Canada shows that the region has previously experienced two similar-sized earthquakes in the past 25 years, with the most significant being a magnitude 5.5 quake in 1929.
Seismologist Adams mentioned that seismic activity is not common in this intraplate region within the North American plate, and any potential aftershocks were deemed highly unlikely. The cause of earthquakes in such regions remains less understood compared to plate boundaries, with possibilities including regional stress fields or reactivation of old buried faults within zones of crustal weakness.
Adams advised that although earthquakes are infrequent in this area, it serves as a reminder of their unpredictability, emphasizing the importance of being prepared and following safety protocols. Lindsay Schoenbohm, a geologist at the University of Toronto, explained that pressure accumulates near old faults or buried cracks in the tectonic plate, leading to occasional seismic activities known as “snap, crack, pop earthquakes.”
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the event as a magnitude 4.1 earthquake, differing slightly from Earthquakes Canada’s data due to varying station locations and measurement scales. Natural Resources Canada’s Stephen Crane highlighted the importance of relying on Earthquakes Canada as the authoritative source for earthquake information within the country, given the discrepancies in reporting methodologies between agencies.
Overall, the recent earthquake in Ontario has sparked discussions on social media, with residents reflecting on the region’s recent challenges, including extreme weather conditions. Despite the rare occurrence of earthquakes in the area, the event serves as a reminder of nature’s power and the need to stay vigilant and prepared for any future seismic activities.