Swarm of powerful earthquakes hits off B.C. coast

Earthquakes Canada recorded five tremors off the B.C. coast over the weekend with a maximum magnitude of 5.0. Dec. 21, 2014.

Seismologists are reminding British Columbians living near the coast to be earthquake-ready after a swarm of shakers struck over the weekend.

Five offshore quakes ranging in magnitude from 4.0 to 5.0 struck about 200 kilometres west of Port Hardy from Saturday morning to Sunday evening, according to Earthquakes Canada.

None of the tremors were severe enough to damage any coastal homes, however.

“We don’t think they are capable of generating any strong ground shaking that can cause seismic damage and they were not big enough to cause any big tsunami,” researcher Dr. Honn Kao told CTV Vancouver.

Canada sees hundreds of earthquakes every year and seismologists don’t believe the weekend’s events are anything to be concerned about.

Kao said swarms aren’t uncommon in areas in areas where the tectonic set is complicated, as it is off the B.C. coast, and there’s no indication the recent one is a lead-up to the inevitable megathrust earthquake commonly known as “The Big One.”

Earthquakes Canada is still using the recent swarm as a reminder that residents living near the coast need to be ready.

“At this moment, there is no reliable way to predict the occurrence of a megathrust earthquake,” Kao said.

“Especially in this holiday, I would suggest everybody take a moment and come back and examine whether or not you are well prepared for the strike of a big earthquake.”

For information on how to be ready for an earthquake, and what to do after one hits, visit the Earthquakes Canada website.