3.2-magnitude earthquake hits area northwest of Hawkesbury

Earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 3.5 are recorded on local seismographs are “generally not felt,” states Earthquakes Canada.

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Published May 15, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 1 minute read

A seismograph in action measuring earthquake strength. Photo by Mike Blake /Reuters

A minor earthquake shook parts of eastern Ontario and western Quebec on Wednesday morning, hitting an area northwest of Hawkesbury near Lac Long.

According to Earthquakes Canada, the 3.2-magnitude earthquake hit the location in the Argenteuil Regional County Municipality on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River at 8:20 a.m.

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The earthquake was located 15 kilometres west-northwest of Hawkesbury, 50 kilometres east of Buckingham, 70 kilometres east-northeast of Gatineau and 77 kilometres east-northeast of Ottawa.

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Earthquakes Canada states that earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 3.5 are recorded on local seismographs, instruments used to record and measure vibrations during an earthquake, “but generally not felt.” Major earthquakes that can cause serious damage are considered to be those with a magnitude between 7.0 and 7.9.

However, Earthquakes Canada notes that other factors, like the depth of an earthquake, can also determine “the amount of ground shaking that might be produced at a particular site.” Wednesday’s earthquake was considered shallow at nine kilometres below the Earth’s surface, making it more likely to be felt.

As of 12:30 p.m., Earthquakes Canada received 95 reports from people who said they felt the earthquake. Most people reported the intensity as weak.

Other recent nearby earthquakes took place on April 7 70 kilometres north-northwest of Maniwaki and on Feb. 1 19 kilometres southwest of Valleyfield.

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