Whether 7.7 or 5.8, The Shaker Was a Big One
Saturday, October 27, 2012 @ 9:18 PM
Prince George, B.C.- There are now conflicting reports on the magnitude of the earthquake which rocked the west coast of B.C. and rumbled all the way through to Edmonton.The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre says the quake was 7.7 on the Richter, while the US Geological Survey says the quake which was centred 25 kms south of Sandspit was 5.8.
( at right, USGS map of quake epicentre- courtesy USGS)
A Tsunami warning has been issued and the coastline of Prince Rupert is being evacuated. Residents are being told to move to higher ground, at least 22 metres above sea level which would mean they would have to be above the five corners intersection in Prince Rupert.
The shaker was felt in communities all along Highway 16 with residents Terrace saying their furniture was “hopping” across the living room floor.
In Vanderhoof, trees were swainging as were light fixtures in homes.
In Prince George, the shake had the media box at the Coliseum shaking, and broadcasters working at CFISFM looked out the window to see light standards moving and a person “hanging on to the bus stop”. “I thought I was just feeling a little queasy” says J.D. Boutillier, host of the Flipside on CFISFM, “I saw the curtains swaying, then looked across at my co host who was hanging on for dear life to the desk in the studio . It was the strangest thing.”
At this point, there have been no reports of damage or injuries. RCMP in Prince Rupert are moving people to higher ground, expecting a tsunami.
Comments
Certainly felt it here in PG near the airport, I hope our friends on the other island are OK.
My place must be built well. I didn’t feel a thing.
The USGS web site is showing a total of 4 quakes so far. The first one was 7.7 approximately 8:04 p.m. and followed by aftershocks of 5.8, 4.8 and 5.1.
From the reports I saw posted the initial was 7.7 and a 5.8 aftershock hit 10 mins later . this was posted via the USGS website . Went to the Natural resources Canada page and filled out a report there and they came back to me with an estimated 2 in the Prince George area.
http://quakes.globalincidentmap.com/
Its actually not a conflict, USGS has the original as a 7.7, then another 5.8 20 minutes later. There have been several since too…
Nah! Wish,wish,wish. Nothing ever happens here. Boring!
Hopefully this will be the nail in the coffin for Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.
RUEZ: Even a solid concrete block will move in an earthquake. It all depends on the ground your house is built on. Some types of soil move more than others.
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