Overview
- The quake, which struck at 12:36 p.m. ET Tuesday near Shawville, Quebec, measured magnitude 3.9 at a depth of about 13 kilometers.
- Earthquakes Canada received thousands of felt reports spanning roughly a 300-mile-wide area, with most describing light to moderate shaking.
- The U.S. Geological Survey logged reports from Montreal and from parts of New York and Vermont, reflecting how eastern rock layers carry vibrations over long distances.
- Authorities reported no injuries or significant damage so far, and officials noted quakes of this size are often felt widely but rarely cause serious harm.
- Carleton University engineers note the Ottawa Valley sits in a moderate seismic zone and flag suspended drop ceilings as a frequent failure that can fall and block exits during shaking.