UPDATED: A 6.3-magnitude aftershock once again rocks Haida Gwaii islands
By Nelson Daily Staff
CBC News reported a 6.3-magnitude aftershock struck off the coast of B.C.’s Haida Gwaii islands Sunday morning.
The aftershock came less than 24 hours after Satruday’s quake, which is the strongest earthquake in more than 60 years hit the same area.
Officials said the temblor hit 64 kilometres southwest of Sandspit at a depth of 19 kilometres just before noon Sunday.
A tweet from Emergency Information B.C. said no tsunami alerts were issued.
More than 30 aftershocks have hit the area after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Saturday evening, and several of the aftershocks measured at least 4 in magnitude.
Tsunami warnings from Vancouver Island to the Washington border cancelled
Coastal residents can now breathe a sigh of relief after tsunami warnings from Vancouver Island to the Washington border, and as far away as Hawaii, were cancelled several hours after they were issued Saturday.
The tsunami warnings came after the strongest earthquake in more than half century — 7.7 in magnitude — struck off Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.
People say they felt the quake, which occurred shortly after 8 p.m. local time, as far away as Alberta and the Yukon.
There were more than 10 aftershocks measuring at least 4 in magnitude. The strongest were 5.8 and 4.8.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre sent out warnings to B.C. North Coast, the Haida Gwaii islands, parts of the central B.C. coast, the coast of Alaska and for the Hawaiian islands.
Early Sunday morning, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre downgraded the warnings in both B.C. and Hawaii to advisory status, meaning evacuations were no longer necessary, and they were cancelled altogether a few hours later.
“Based on all available data, the tsunami threat has been decreased and is now at the advisory level and not expected to increase,” the bulletin on the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.
“Sea level changes and strong currents may still occur along all coasts that could be a hazard to swimmers and boaters as well as near the shore at beaches and in harbours and marinas.”
The Nelson Daily Facebook user June Wing was en route from Maui Sunday and saw the tsunami hit Hawaii.
“Our flight from Maui took off early just before the tsunami hit but it seems that it was much weaker than expected,” Wing said.
No injuries or major damage have been reported.
Tsunami warning issued for West Coast following earthquake
The U.S. Geological Survey has issued a tsunami warning for coastal British Columbia following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck near Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands) on Saturday night.
The quake was felt across a wide area of north-central B.C., including Prince Rupert, Quesnel and Houston and was followed by a 5.8-magnitude aftershock shortly after.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the tsunami warning covers much of the West Coast, extending south to Washingon, Oregon and Northern California.
To the north, the warning covered an area extending from the north tip of Vancouver Island to Alaska.
There have been no reports of damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was centered approximately 200 kilometres south-southwest of Prince Rupert at a depth of 10 kilometers.
A bulletin issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was the possibility of coastal flooding accompanied by very strong water currents.
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