B.C. saw its first earthquake of the new year off the coast of Vancouver Island back on January 2nd.
It was 4.7 on the Richter scale and was not likely to have been felt on the island. It happened at sea 156 kilometers away from Port Alice at 5:10 a.m. local time.
Each time this happens, seismologists warn that a “big one” will happen eventually. In April 1992 a quake between Haida Gwaii and north Vancouver Island hit 6.8. According to records, the last major quake was on January 26 1700 and seismologist John Cassidy says there hasn’t been any movement in that area since.
Cassidy says trying to come up with an approximate time for the next major quake is near impossible. The expected time frame for the next big one is anywhere from 250 to 850 years after the 1700 shaker.
He added that climate change is playing havoc with the earth, and while there are no known direct links between climate change and earth quakes, Cassidy said it can’t be ruled out.
Cassidy stated that despite the danger, things like the annual shakeout helps improve awareness of the quakes and infrastructure have come a long way, but another magnitude 9 quake is coming and preparation is necessary.
