British Columbia struck by moderate natural disaster

An quake that shook the Inland Empire on Tuesday, Dec. 29 reached a magnitude of 4.3, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake struck at 11:39 p.m., with effects being felt as far as 150-miles away.

The Canadian agency says there are no reports of damage and adds none would be expected.

More than 10,000 people reported feeling the quake between Vancouver and Seattle.

An auditor general’s report in 2014 mentioned that British Columbia is not prepared for a major quake.

At 5:48 p.m., a magnitude 4.4 quake was centred four kilometres outside of Devore, California – about 48 kilometres east of Los Angeles.

Two of Metro Vancouver’s elevated rapid transit lines were shut down briefly while the guideways were checked, but TransLink said the system was back in operation within 90 minutes.

Tuesday’s early-morning quake was followed by several three-point aftershocks all Tuesday afternoon and evening. But with a depth of 60 kilometres, it was deep enough to be felt across the region, with residents reporting effects in both the Vancouver and Victoria areas, a Canadian seismologist said.

“Compared to these large earthquakes, last night was just a tiny drop in the bucket”, Cassidy said.

Mayor Gregor Robertson tweeted that every quake is a “crucial reminder for your family and business to be ready” while Vancouver School Trustee Patti Bacchus observed, “Tonight’s relatively minor #earthquake a subtle reminder from Mother Nature we need to get all seismically at-risk BC schools upgraded ASAP”.