Earthquakes Shudder Region Southwest of Prince George

Friday, October 12, 2007 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Over the last three days, the earth has been moving in an area south west of Prince George.

In fact, there have been 8 earthquakes in the area, the smallest one registering a Richter magnitude of 3.0 , and the strongest had a Richter magnitude of 3.2

Scientists aren’t sure why.

(at right, Natural Resources Canada map of earthquake activity over the past 30 days)

Gary Rogers is a Seismologist and Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada. He says this number of quakes in this particular area of B.C. is unusual “This is unprecedented” says Rogers, “We haven’t seen anything like this since we starting keeping records in the 1960’s so certainly we haven’t seen that many quakes in about 50 years.”

Rogers says the quakes were strong enough that if you had been within 20 kilometers of the quakes you would have felt them.

While Rogers says it is difficult to say with accuracy the exact location of each quake, the satellite stations have pegged the locations to be approximately 150 km sw of Prince George in the Nazko Lake region. And while the information can tell the size of the quakes, the depth of the action is approximate.

Date	Time	Location of Quake	Depth (kms)	Richter Magnitude	Distance From Prince George
Oct. 09	19:24:45	52.83N 124.22W	10.0*	3.0	155km SW
Oct. 09	20:59:53	52.81N 124.19W	10.0*	3.0	155km SW
Oct. 10	03:33:27	52.84N 124.16W	10.0*	3.0	151 km SW
Oct. 10	06:02:28	52.83N 124.25W	10.0*	3.0	156 km SW
Oct. 10	11:46:04	52.86N 124.06W	10.0*	3.0	146 km SW
Oct. 10	11:50:41	52.82N 124.05W	10.0*	3.2	149 km SW
Oct. 11	16:59:55	52.86N 124.04W	10.0*	3.1	145 km SW
Oct. 11	20:07:49	52.87N 124.07W	10.0*	3.0	145 km SW

Rogers says the team of seismologists is looking at the data to see if they can come up with a concrete answer as to why this is happening. “This region is an area of old volcanoes, but there hasn’t been any activity in modern times. It could be a tectonic force, or reformation of a volcano but that is highly unlikely, or it could be hydro-thermal activity.”

Is it cause for concern? “I don’t think it is anything to worry about” says Rogers, “But it is something to be curious about.”

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Posted on Friday, October 12, 2007 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: RRrabbitt on October 12 2007 6:40 AM

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm ....Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice.

Posted by: Gofaster on October 12 2007 7:11 AM

I fear CN a whole lot more than what mother nature is tossing at us...
At least you can prepare for an earthquake.
First time in years I will get rocked to sleep....
nice!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on October 12 2007 7:40 AM

Probably that darn Pine Beetle taking flight and making the earth lighter.

Posted by: Parrothead on October 12 2007 7:53 AM

I actually kind of hope that the Nazko volcano is re-awakening, just a little. What an opportunity to build a geothermal generating station for power. Not to mention that I just plain like volcanos. "I don't know where I'm-a-gonna go when the volcano blows".

Posted by: Parrothead on October 12 2007 8:02 AM

Posted by: slider71 on October 12 2007 8:04 AM

Quesnel...soon to be the new West Coast?

Posted by: owl on October 12 2007 8:13 AM

Think tourist attraction ....... think $$$$

;-)

Posted by: metalman on October 12 2007 8:23 AM

Salvation! The PG economy is saved! We will build a network of geothermal generating stations and sell (more) power to the Yanks, let's call it magmazap
power corp. and don't let B.C. Hydro get involved.
metalman.

Posted by: northman on October 12 2007 8:26 AM

Anyone rember the quake in the early 80s that hit this area? Prince George should be more worried about the pinchi fault and monitoring what its doing at this time. For those who dont know, the pinchi fault is a major fault that runs aprox from the Yukon through the interior and is recorded to the valemount area. Fort st james and Prince George are pretty much sitting righ on it. The scary thing is that this fault has been fairly quiet.

Posted by: metalman on October 12 2007 10:21 AM

1985, and 5.7 Richter, if my memory serves me correctly, northman. That was the first earthquake I experienced as an adult, and it is very memorable. The concrete floor I was standing on seemed to turn into a rubbery, spongy substance for just a brief moment, though I don't belive it actually moved much. Quite unsettling!
metalman.

Posted by: DanSet on October 12 2007 10:47 AM

I was 6 when that quake hit. I was standing on my moms bed so my first thought was that my brother had jumped on the bed too. Then I looked outside and my young mind caught on that the puddle was wiggling too. Suddenly, and with glee, I realized I was enjoying my first earthquake. Mom and her friends were scared out of their pants! Thanks for triggering this memory Metalman.

Posted by: northman on October 12 2007 11:25 AM

I was 5 when it hit, i was watching cartoons and noticed the plants were slighly shaking for a couple of mins before it hit. Didnt really know what was goin on until my mom started yelling to get out of the house. The noise it made scared me more then anything.

Posted by: Harbinger on October 12 2007 12:17 PM

Probably too many water wells.

Posted by: owl on October 12 2007 1:46 PM

See my note about that quake under the Duchess Park School news .... it will be earthquake resistant!!!! ... as are all the other buldings in PG that withstood that quake ... including the existing Duchess Park HS....

http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/7206/3/duchess+park+school++replacement+dollars+announced?

Posted by: flowerchild on October 12 2007 3:22 PM

The Citizen must have heard the earth rumbling over at Opinion250 , Do they read you often, they finally got your story .
I was very young when the last one hit. My dad was on the Cameron St Bridge, he said the feeling was different although he was afraid.

Posted by: dgdiggler on October 12 2007 4:33 PM

Look at all the activity around vancouver island. Not too long before it slides into the ocean.

Posted by: Foo738 on October 14 2007 8:05 AM

I recall the one in the 80's. I was in the lounge of the old Nurse's Residence on Alward Street. We all vacated to the lawn.

There was a bigger one I believe it was in the late 1940's that was really a scary one.

Makes one realize how small humans really are when mother nature comes into the picture.