A 4.4 magnitude earthquake rattled the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, and Côte-Nord regions on Thursday morning. Earthquakes Canada reported that the quake’s epicenter, occurring at 10:21 a.m., was situated 25 kilometers northeast of Mont-Joli, Quebec, in the St. Lawrence River. The tremor was felt in locations as distant as Rivière-du-Loup, Rimouski, Baie-des-Chaleurs, Baie-Comeau, and Sept-Îles.
The City of Matane confirmed on Facebook that no damages were reported, and their teams are prepared for any eventuality. The CLSC Matane was briefly evacuated as a precaution, with everyone safely returning to the building, as per Santé Québec Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Christopher Boucher, a seismic analyst at Natural Resources Canada, noted that the region typically experiences a moderate number of earthquakes annually, with about four surpassing a magnitude of 4.0. The Lower St-Lawrence area is classified as a moderate earthquake zone due to ancient fault lines that can trigger seismic activity.
Boucher explained that the region’s geological history, where tectonic plates once separated before halting the process, has left deep fault lines that can become active, causing the earthquakes felt today. While lower magnitude tremors are common, the impact of such events varies based on proximity and soil composition. Boucher indicated that individuals may experience five to 10 seconds of shaking or swaying during an earthquake.
The last earthquake of similar magnitude in the area was reported in 1999, south of Sept-Îles. Boucher urged those who felt the quake to submit their experiences on the Earthquakes Canada website for further analysis.
