Late Tuesday night, a magnitude 3.7 earthquake rattled numerous residents in southern and central Ontario, as reported by Natural Resources Canada. The quake, recorded by Earthquakes Canada, struck approximately 99 kilometers northeast of Toronto just before 11 p.m. ET.
Centered 23 kilometers southeast of Orillia, Ont., the tremor was described as “lightly felt” and occurred at a depth of five kilometers. Over 2,600 individuals have reported feeling the earthquake from locations as distant as Kingston to Kitchener, with more reports still incoming, according to Natural Resources Canada seismologist Marikah Adams.
Local resident Sarah Cowley, an artist from Beaverton, experienced a “roaring sound” reverberating through her 120-year-old home as the quake hit. Despite the shaking floors, no visible damage was observed outside her window.
Earthquakes Canada’s “Did you feel it?” link has received over 2,000 reports from people across various regions, extending from Kitchener in the west to Niagara Falls in the south.
While there have been no immediate reports of damage or injuries, historical data from Earthquakes Canada indicates two similar-sized earthquakes in the area over the past 25 years, with the largest being a magnitude 5.5 quake in 1929.
Seismologist Marikah Adams mentioned that seismic activity is uncommon in this intraplate region within the North American plate. The cause of the recent quake remains unclear, with possibilities including regional stress fields or reactivated buried faults in zones of crustal weakness.
Despite the rarity of earthquakes in this region, Adams emphasized the importance of preparedness and advised individuals to follow safety protocols such as “stop, drop, cover, and hold on” during such events.
In comparison to the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) recording of the earthquake as a magnitude 4.1 at a depth of 11.5 kilometers, Earthquakes Canada presented slightly different numbers, highlighting variations in measurement scales and station utilization.
Seismologist Stephen Crane emphasized Earthquakes Canada as the primary source for earthquake information within the country due to differences in measurement techniques and access to data. CBC News reached out to the USGS for further input.