Sudbury, ON – Residents in northern Ontario experienced a rare geological event Monday Morning as a magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded 3 kilometers north-northwest of Lively, just west of Sudbury, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor occurred at 12:46 a.m. local time (00:46 UTC) at a depth of 9.8 kilometers. While relatively minor, the quake was notable for an area that sees few measurable earthquakes. Reports indicate the quake may have been lightly felt in communities near Sudbury, Naughton, and along the northern shores of Georgian Bay.
According to the USGS data, the event received an Intensity Level III (Weak) on the community response scale, meaning it was felt indoors by some people but caused no damage.
Northern Ontario, situated far from active plate boundaries, experiences occasional intraplate seismic activity, usually too small to cause damage or widespread awareness. The most recent comparable tremor in the region occurred several years ago near North Bay.
No injuries or structural damage have been reported. Officials note that minor quakes like this serve as reminders that Canada’s Shield region, while stable, is not entirely immune to seismic movement.
