No Major Damage Reported From Massive Quake
Saturday, October 27, 2012 @ 11:43 PM
Prince George, B.C. – Emergency Management B.C. officials say they have received no reports of significant damage resulting from Saturday night’s earthquake centered south of Sandspit on Haida Gwaii.
At this time four communities have evacuation measures in place, with residents moved to higher ground. They include areas on Haida Gwaii and the mainland community of Port Edward. The Emergency Co-ordination Centre in Victoria has been activated, as has the Northwest Provincial Emergency Operations Centre in Prince Rupert, to connect with and assist affected communities. A tsunami warning is in place for Haida Gwaii, the north coast of B.C. including Bella Bella and Bella Coola, and down to the north tip of Vancouver Island. As well an advisory has been put in place for Vancouver Island, extending down to the Capital Regional District.
Kelly Kryzanowski, the Manager of Strategic Initiatives with Emergency Management B.C., says the quake struck at 8:04pm on inland Haidi Gwaii. It was initially a 7.1 magnitude quake which was quickly upgraded to 7.7. Kryzanowski says “the quake was widely felt, that power in some areas is sporadic, there are some challenges with telecoms, but at this point we have not received any reports of damage.” She says there have been no major wave readings or fluctuations reported along the coast.She says strong currents can be expected during the period of the Tsunami warning, but no major damage or inundation is predicted.
Meantime the minister responsible for Emergency Management, Shirley Bond, says “Our goal is to continue to convey information as it comes. Obviously this is a very dynamic situation, but I should make it clear that our government and officials from Emergency Management have been engaged from the moment the event occurred. Premier Christy Clark and I are being kept apprised of the situation and are working closely with the Emergency Operations Centre. Our first concern is the public safety of British Columbians and the premier and our team are committed to providing whatever assistance is needed.”
Bond says further information will be forthcoming as warranted.
Comments
It’s amazing to me that a 7.7 magnitude quake didn’t result in worse tragedy. I’m so glad everyone is so far okay! Hope that’s the way it stays!
It really is amazing, considering that “lesser” quakes have resulted in absolute devastation in the third world.
Massive quake? Maybe in BC but in Japan they call that an aftershock.
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