4.1 magnitude earthquake in northwest Quebec felt in Ottawa

No damage was reported after an 4.1 magnitude earthquake rumbled through western Quebec on the morning of Dec. 29.

According to Earthquakes Canada, the quake’s epicentre was 75 kilometres northwest of Maniwaki, and it happened at 8:02 a.m.

Earthquakes Canada received reports from people feeling the earthquake from Pembroke to Montreal, and as far south as Brockville, with dozens in the national capital region also filing reports of rumblings.

A few hours after the earthquake, Earthquakes Canada had received nearly 1,800 reports.

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Natural Resources Canada’s “Did you feel it?” report is available online.

Natural Resources Canada has also developed the Earthquake Early Warning System to give people a warning when an earthquake is imminent.

The system launched in British Columbia in early 2024, and is expected to be used in Ontario and Quebec by spring 2025.

The early warning system works by detecting the first early energy waves to radiate from the earthquake, which rarely causes damage. Sensors transmit that information to data centres, where computers calculate the quake’s location and magnitude.

This method can warn local residents before the arrival of the quake’s secondary energy waves, which brings on strong shaking and can cause the most damage.

Recipients of an alert should assume “strong shaking” is imminent.

A fact sheet about the warning system says it does not predict earthquakes, but rather detects it immediately as it occurs.

Low-level earthquakes that bring on light shaking won’t produce alerts, the NRC says, but public alerts will be sent for earthquakes estimated to be at or above a magnitude 5.

“EEW does not remove the need for other earthquake risk reduction, preparedness, and response measures, such as constructing to building code requirements,” the NRC says. 

Preventative measures include stopping traffic into bridges or tunnels, halting trains, diverting planes, securing hard drives and readying generators for potential power outages, as well as urging people to “drop, cover, and hold on” while indoors, among other precautions.

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