Tsunami warning after 7.7 earthquake off Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)

by Staff on Oct 27, 2012 at 8:50 pm
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The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center released this map.

A tsunami warning is in effect for coastal areas of British Columbia and Alaska from the north tip of Vancouver Island to Cape Decision, Alaska (85 miles southeast of Sitka).

This follows a 7.7-magnitude earthquake off Haida Gwaii at 8:04 p.m. It's listed at 7.1 on the Natural Resources Canada website.

However, the widely respected U.S. Geological Survey has it listed as a 7.7. quake on its website. It also reports aftershocks of 5.8, 5.1, and 4.8 in the 81 minutes after the original earthquake.

Tsunami warnings mean that widespread dangerous coastal flooding along with strong currents may last for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

The Emergency Info BC website states that a warning "means that a tsunami is expected and imminent in low-lying coastal areas".

"People in these areas must move inland or to higher ground IMMEDIATELY," the site states. "Do not return until directed to do so by local emergency officials. A tsunami is a series of waves and the first wave is not usually the largest and could last several hours."

People in Tofino have been ordered to leave their homes and head to the local community centre.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in this area.

Comments (12) Add New Comment
Steve Newton
Oct 27, 2012 at 9:27 pm
didn't feel anything in North Delta
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Gerry
Oct 27, 2012 at 10:54 pm
We felt this in Prince George.
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prenup
Oct 27, 2012 at 11:25 pm
nor down town van,
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Earlnelly
Oct 28, 2012 at 4:04 am
Building swaying here in d/t vancouver.

I wonder if this is mother natures way of telling us not to dump iron tailings into her waters?
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Pat Crowe
Oct 28, 2012 at 10:01 am
The circle is complete. Chile. New Zealand. Japan and now us.
I had been expecting some sort of equilizer and this one couldn't have been an easier out for us.
We dodged a bullet in a large way compared to the other three with our pacific northwest stress reliever.
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Lovely L.
Oct 28, 2012 at 10:31 am
I read this morning that someone in Edmonton claimed to have felt the earthquake while both myself and a friend felt nothing last night in Vancouver. Interesting.
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F Earl
Oct 28, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Live in community of Queen Charlotte. We are still getting impressive aftershocks today - rattling windows and grumbling house. Quake last night was like a thousand freight trains passing - windows flexing like mad, house groaning and items falling. Could hear the quake coming before it hit us. Managed to run outside with the kids before it peaked and watched/listened to the roar, stuff crashing in the house and shed and the power going out.
Had to check the house for structural damage as others are reporting damage. Most impressive earthquake of the quakes I've experienced since living here.
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Emily
Oct 28, 2012 at 5:02 pm
I live in East Vancouver and did not feel anything :)
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Lawrence
Oct 28, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Could you imagine if the Gateway pipeline was in operation and this happened. I would think there would be a break in the line or many breaks in the line. This is one reason that pipeline should not be built.
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fuk names
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:49 pm
didnt feel anything in vancover....
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uknow
Oct 28, 2012 at 9:47 pm
Haida Gwaii ? Who the hell calls it that anyway?
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Martin Dunphy
Oct 28, 2012 at 10:38 pm
uknow:

For more than two years, Haida Gwaii has been the official name, in law, for the island group formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands.
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