A reported 5.5 magnitude earthquake, originating in Ontario-Quebec, struck the area causing residents in Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Boston, and Rochester to feel the shaker. The precise epicenter was 33 miles north of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It occurred 11.9 miles below the surface. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage.
The quake, which was deemed as strong for the region, was labeled as a shallow earthquake according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It is reported that the rumblings lasted from ten to 15 seconds. Some residents in the area reported shaking windows and rumbling buildings for ten to twenty seconds.
Although Canada reports its share of earthquakes none of them are usually high on the scale. The major earthquake struck in the year 1700. It was named the Cascadia Earthquake. It had a magnitude of 8.7 to 9.2 megathrust. This earthquake struck on the western area of Canada along the Pacific Northwest. The fault was about 600 miles in length. The quake was so strong that it caused a tsunami that hit the coast of Japan. Most of the earthquakes hitting the area that was struck today are minor in magnitude.
Today’s quake caused the Via Rail to stop its trains that were en route on the Ottawa-Montreal line. People were seen running out of office buildings in the downtown area of Ottawa. One of the people who experienced the quake was Cathy Basile. She said, “Everything started slowly to shake, and then it got really strong, like a train going through. And then it slowed down, stopped, and then there was a little burp.”
Did you feel the quake?
Earthquake Strikes Ontario Quebec
I felt my building shake in Guelph, Ontario.
I felt it in Gananoque,On. My dogs came racing upstairs wide eyed and frightened and then a few seconds later my home trembled for approx. 10 – 15 seconds. The animals always feel it first!
I felt my building shake in Sudbury, Ontario.
I was having a nap when my bed began to shake like crazy. At first I thought I was just dreaming but when the mirror beside my bed began to make noise I realized it was a quake. Lasted about 15-20 seconds.
It seemed like the house was rocking in such great movements I thought it would split. Then it was more of a rushing vibrating rumbling shaking and it seemed to last a very long time.
i felt it in toronto, ontario
Our house shook in St. Catharines, Ontario.
We were sitting on the couch in Peterborough, Ontario, when it suddenly started to shake. It lasted for about 15 seconds.
Was felt here in Welland as well…
We felt the shake in Penetanguishene, On
I was at the university when i felt my room shake .. ran to the window to see people had come out of their buildings, hands on their heads …
office building shake in Etobicoke, ON
I felt it in Buffalo NY
we were at the 7th floor , in Toronto, Ontario
Tremors were felt in Timmins,Ontario
Our house shook and a cabinet in the living room did quite a marked shudder throughout. Windows rattled and it sounded like a heavy wind although none was evident.
I felt it sitting at home in Kettleby, Ontario..
I felt my desk moving slightly and then I heard my metal filing cabinet. It was quite a strange sensation. Peterborough, Ontario
It felt pretty rough up on Sheppard & Don Mills. Office building got evacuated….
yeah my aunt was saying her whole house was shaking and her plates were sliding. we live in hamilton,ON
Dang think woke me up from a nap, seemed to last at least 30 sec or so then 2 min later felt another smaller 5 sec of shaking……i think. Innisfil, On.
We felt the building shake in Huntsville, Ontario
I was sitting in my school cafeteria and all of a sudden the cafe benches started shaking…I was like ummm, pretty sure my cafe is shaking right now for no apparent reason, then I tuned into B101 and realized that it was an earthquake? strange.
-Midland, Ontario (North of Barrie)
I felt my house shake in Kingston, Ontario
I felt it in Montreal, but it only lasted about 3 seconds!
I felt the building, Loyalist College shake in Belleville, Ontario. We were on the 3rd floor.
I felt in my house in Burlington, Ontario. I didn’t know what it was though, until someone posted on facebook and I read this. Weird!
The quake woke me up from my nap. Bed shook-rumbling.
Kingston
Wow I felt it while writing my exam today in Markham
i felt it here in beaverton ontario
I was watering plants in the front porch and it was quite a rumble. Inside the house, some plants fell from the windowsill.
I felt the earthquake in Hamilton, ON at 1.45 PM for about 15-20 seconds. I have a tall piece of furniture, free standing, who moved horizontaly about 3 cm each way.
I thought it was my anti-histamines acting up.
Felt it here in Renfrew Ontario, didn’t even realize it until about 20 seconds in.
Family in Hamilton felt it as well.
Crazy.
I felt it when I was taking a massive dump. It lasted a few minutes.
The quake was felt here in Thorold as well.
felt shake on 34th floor,scary….in scarborough,toronto
I felt the quake in Orangeville for about 20 seconds I was sleeping woke up and saw the ceiling fan chains moving and the bed shaking……..
I felt it here in Sudbury, ON
felt it pretty strong in the Government buildings here in Gatineau, Quebec.
Helen Felt the Earthquake in London Ontario I was sitting at my desk on the computer, I have shelves above me with all my Elvis things i save . When all of a sudden Elvis Presley was rocking i said OMG earthquake Always new Elvis would rock and roll for me someday lol
I’m at work in Mississauga, Ont and two of my co-workers felt it.
yup I felt it in my work building near Kingston Ontario.
didnt feel a thing.
Chatham, ON…just came home from the doctor’s when my daughter asked me if i felt the shake and she told me she felt her table move/shake and left her scared!
Ifelt some movement in st.thomas on.
Markham On. I thought someone was shaking the chair in my office. My desk was also moving it lasted for about ten seconds. I asked if anyone else felt that. Our staff was freaked out.
Tremor in Peterborough lasting about 2 or 3 minutes. No noise in house nor anything out of place. Good idea to place a bag of items at door if a larger one comes and you have to leave. That’s what they do in Los Angeles.
I felt it, near Chibougamau, QC for about 5-10 seconds. My computer started moving. Wasn’t aware what was happening.
i felt it in gatineau quebec, it was crazy felt like my whole building was going to collapseed. my 52′ flat screen tv almost feel on the floor .
Im in Chatham Ont. and i was sitting on my couch and felt it shaking. I have a old farm house that was creaking like it does in a huge wind storm!
We have tornado warnings this way today so my first thought was TORNADO….then it was over…thought i was going crazy until i turned on the TV.
I was marking English exams and at first I thought I had encountered a brilliant exam that made the ground move, but alas – it was an earthquake. The student still got 88%
yes felt it here at work (keele and steeles) very strong…felt like windows were going to explode
We felt the quake in Brownsburg-Chatham(laurentians).
At least 30 seconds of the floor shaking and the windows vibrating..there was one last winter that we felt here but this was stronger.
Felt it in Scarborough….Finch and Tapscott area…thought my office mate was shaking my desk….gave him a dirty look to stop….then I felt the ground swaying….that is when I realized it wasn’t my co-worker trying to tick me off….LOL!
Great leg & foot massage. I was mowing the lawn next to the garden when the steady rumble/shaking began. I live 50 miles North-East of Gatineau so fairly close to the epicentre.15 seconds seems about right although with the excitement it felt longer
Felt it in Shelburne, Ontario, even though I was in my basement!
Felt a strong shake in my building, we have been evacuated until further notice
Gatineau
I felt it at work! Not going to lie…I just yelled “Run it’s a freaking earthquake” as I was running. The entire second floor of the building I work in, at Canada Post in Ottawa, was shaking and looked like it was going to collapse on my head.
Felt the quake in Renfrew, Ontario. Felt like my house was going to fall down,lasted a good 15-20 seconds
The glass in my china cabinet was shaking for about 15 seconds. I was on the couch I could feel the hole house move back and forth.
The glass in my china cabinet was shaking for at least 15 seconds. I could feel the whole house was moving back and forth.
I felt it in Rosseau On. Two hours north of Toronto. Glad someone was with me to verify. We certainly felt the whole building shaking!
It was felt in Sudbury. The government buildings were shut down for the day.
Felt the shake from Malton, ON. Was on my bed and all of a sudden everything was moving!! Lasted for atleast 20 seconds…
Hey all, we (being the kiddies and I) felt in here in Ottawa, downtownish area. We were at the corner of preston/sommerset. Just inside a local area pool/park. The entire building shook for a few seconds..honestly it was a soft like rumbles and then BLAM that huge long one….scared us and we bolted outta there!!!
I was lying on couch and i thought it was a big truck coming on the road, then my 8 years old son told me it was an earthquake and I told him yes it was, he was so scared poor little guy, it las about 10 to 15 sec.
We felt it in Ajax, Ontario
yes I totally felt the earthquake hitting us in mississauga, my glass shelf moved back n forth!!!
Totally felt it in Wasaga Beach, my whole house shook, nothing moved or clinked together just a gentle rocking, was very weird feeling!!
i was in ottawa when we felt the school shaking like hell and we had to get out.
Felt it in Fergus…my computer screen shook quite a bit!
Felt it in St. Catharines, the kitchen table started rocking like someone was bouncing their leg, and then my seat and the kitchen itself started to feel like it was slowly swaying, very non-violent and gently, but noticeable for sure. Upstairs, apparently a cabinet almost tipped over.
i felt it in mckerrow located between sudbury and elliot lake..shook my house for 20 – 25 seconds