By Charles Maduka
Thousands of residents across southern and central Ontario reported feeling an earthquake late Tuesday night, according to Natural Resources Canada.
Earthquakes Canada said the tremor measured magnitude 3.7 and occurred just before 11 p.m. The quake was recorded about 99 kilometres northeast of Toronto.
The agency said the earthquake was lightly felt and had its epicentre about 23 kilometres southeast of Orillia, Ontario, at a depth of five kilometres.
Natural Resources Canada seismologist Marikah Adams said about 2,600 people had reported feeling the quake, with reports coming in from places ranging from Kingston to Kitchener, adding that more reports were still being received.
Sarah Cowley, an artist based in Beaverton, said she heard a loud roaring sound when the earthquake happened and felt her house shake strongly.
She explained that her home is about 120 years old and although it is solid, the floors were shaking during the quake. She added that when she checked outside, there were no visible signs of damage.
Cowley said she was shaken by the experience, while her husband slept through the incident without noticing anything.
Reports submitted through the “Did you feel it?” link showed that people felt the tremor from as far west as Kitchener, through Toronto, east to Belleville, and as far south as Niagara Falls.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Earthquakes Canada data showed that the same region has experienced two similar earthquakes in the past 25 years, while the strongest recorded in the area was a magnitude 5.5 quake in 1929.
Adams said seismic activity is not common in the region because it is located within the North American tectonic plate rather than along a plate boundary.
She said it was unlikely there would be follow-up earthquakes, but added that the exact causes of quakes in the region are not fully understood.
Adams explained that the quake may have been caused by regional stress or the reactivation of old, buried faults in areas where the Earth’s crust is weak.
University of Toronto geologist Lindsay Schoenbohm said pressure can build up over time along old faults or cracks in the tectonic plate and release in small events she described as “snap, crack, pop earthquakes.”
Adams said although earthquakes are rare in the area, the event is a reminder that they can happen anywhere and people should remain calm.
She advised that during an earthquake, people should stop, drop, cover and hold on. She said those indoors should shelter under strong furniture, while those outside should stay away from buildings.
Schoenbohm added that standing under doorways during earthquakes is no longer advised, noting that the idea came from outdated information.
She said each earthquake provides scientists with valuable data that can help improve understanding and prediction of future events.
Many people on social media described the earthquake as another challenge for the region, which has recently faced extreme cold and heavy snowfall.
Cowley said the experience was a reminder of the power of nature and the limits of human control.
The United States Geological Survey recorded the quake as a magnitude 4.1 event at a depth of 11.5 kilometres, slightly different from Earthquakes Canada’s measurements.
Natural Resources Canada seismologist Stephen Crane said such differences can occur because of the use of different measuring stations and magnitude scales.
He explained that Earthquakes Canada is the main authority for earthquakes within the country and should be relied on for accurate information.
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