No injury reported
A minor earthquake shook parts of northwestern Alberta on Saturday night, with Earthquakes Canada recording a preliminary magnitude of 4.2.
The quake occurred about 36 kilometres south of Grande Prairie, a city of approximately 70,000 residents located 460 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, according to a CBC report.
Earthquakes Canada said the event may be industry-related. The earthquake was reported at 9:13 p.m. and was felt lightly by most people in the Grande Prairie area. One resident near the epicentre reported feeling two sharp jolts, according to Taimi Mulder, an earthquake seismologist with Natural Resources Canada. “Most people in the Grande Prairie area felt it very lightly,” Mulder told CBC News.
No damage has been reported.
Mulder said damage from earthquakes usually begins at magnitudes of 5.0 to 5.5, depending on proximity and building standards. She noted that Alberta’s building code is strong, particularly for structures built after 1985, and that damage was not expected.
The region has experienced similar events in the past. In February, two industry-related earthquakes were recorded in the area, including a 4.7-magnitude quake that was felt in Edson, Jasper, Hinton, and Edmonton.
The Alberta Energy Regulator said it is aware of the earthquake and estimated its magnitude at 4.04. The Alberta Geological Survey is reviewing data to determine the cause. The regulator said more than 70 monitoring systems are used to track seismic activity across Alberta.
Earthquakes Canada’s magnitude scale indicates that quakes between 3.5 and 5.4 are “often felt, but rarely cause damage.”
