British Columbia – A moderate earthquake struck beneath the Pacific Ocean west of Vancouver Island early Monday, prompting seismic monitoring but no immediate reports of significant damage or tsunami impacts. The quake occurred far offshore, reducing the likelihood of widespread effects along the coast.
Port McNeill, British Columbia – According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake measured magnitude 5.6 and occurred at 6:41:30 UTC Monday (11:41 p.m. PDT Sunday). The epicenter was located 208 kilometers (129 miles) southwest of Port McNeill at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
The event occurred well offshore of northern Vancouver Island in the Pacific Ocean. Initial USGS analysis assigned the earthquake a Green PAGER status, indicating a low likelihood of fatalities or significant economic losses. Only a handful of people had reported feeling the quake at the time of the initial assessment.
Communities including Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Tofino, Ucluelet, Campbell River, and other coastal areas may have experienced little to no shaking because of the offshore location and distance from population centers. Authorities have not reported damage, infrastructure impacts, or transportation disruptions.
No tsunami warning accompanied the earthquake based on the information available with the event. Offshore earthquakes of this magnitude are not uncommon along the active tectonic boundary off the Pacific Northwest, where the Juan de Fuca Plate interacts with the North American Plate.
Emergency officials routinely remind residents across coastal British Columbia to review earthquake preparedness plans, secure heavy household items, and keep emergency supplies readily available in case stronger earthquakes occur in the future.
The USGS continues to review seismic data, and additional aftershocks remain possible following earthquakes of this size. Officials will provide updates if new information becomes available.
Did you feel the earthquake along Vancouver Island or the British Columbia coast? Share what you experienced in your community.
