Two major earthquakes occurred within 37 minutes of one another off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The first, at magnitude 6.6, struck at 10:39 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday (October 21). It was 218 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy at a depth of 11 kilometres, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The second, at magnitude 6.8, happened at 11:16 p.m. Pacific time.

The USGS stated that it was 232 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy at a depth of 21 kilometres.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a statement that a "destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected".

Update (October 22):

The first two earthquakes were followed by four more quakes.

The third measured a magnitude of 6.5 at a depth of 10 kilometres in the same areas—this time 223 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy at 10:22 p.m.

That was followed by a 4.9-magnitude earthquake at 10:36 p.m., 223 kilometres southwest of Port Moody. It was at a depth of 17.8 kilometres.

The fifth earthquake was 202 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy at 11:13 p.m. It measured 4.3 magnitude and occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres.  

The sixth earthquake happened at 12:43 a.m. on October 21, measuring 4.4 magnitude and occurring 10 kilometres below the surface.