Earthquakes Canada has reported a 3.9-magnitude earthquake occurring north of Shawville, Que., during early Tuesday afternoon. Residents in areas including Ottawa, Maniwaki, and Pembroke felt the quake 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 rarely result in any significant damage.
According to historical government records, the strongest earthquake in the local area within the past 127 years was a magnitude 5.6 quake in September 1944. Previous earthquakes in the years 2010 and 2013 measured around a magnitude of 5, causing some damage but no injuries. Major earthquakes are classified as magnitude 7 and above.
One resident, Briony Baxter of Pembroke, Ont., recounted feeling her house shake while having lunch, prompting her pets to react nervously. She described hearing noises from her basement appliances and feeling her entire house shake for about a minute. Despite living near Garrison Petawawa where helicopters often pass, Baxter noted that the quake felt distinctly different. The seismic event occurred in a region where a magnitude 5.2 quake was previously recorded in 2013, as confirmed by seismologist Michal Koraj, who mentioned that typically damage begins to occur around a magnitude 5 earthquake.