Thousands drop, cover and hold for earthquake drill

Grade two students Emily McMyn, left, and Maggie Kita take cover under their desks during an earthquake drill at Hollyburn Elementary School in West Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday Jan. 26, 2011. (Darryl Dyck / CANADIAN PRESS)

More than 570,000 people practised their drop, cover and hold on skills at precisely 10:18 a.m. as part of this year's Great B.C. ShakeOut drill.

When the clock struck, participants dropped to the ground, took cover under a sturdy desk or table and held on for about 60 seconds to protect themselves in the event of a real earthquake.

Seismologists contend a major shaker occurs about every 300 years, and a big one in the region is overdue.

Millions more people participated in the drill today -- including in California, Nevada, Oregon and even Guam.