A magnitude-5.6 earthquake shook awake parts of the Pacific Northwest late Sunday, rippling across northern Vancouver Island and into western Washington from Bellingham to Seattle and Tacoma. The quake hit at 11:41 p.m. local time on July 19 and was shallow, roughly six miles deep, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage. Officials did not issue any tsunami warnings after the event.
Where It Hit
According to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, the event registered as a magnitude 5.6 centered about 129 miles southwest of Port McNeill, British Columbia, with a depth near 6.2 miles (roughly 10 kilometers). That puts the epicenter in the waters off northern Vancouver Island, safely offshore from the nearest coastal communities.
Shaking Across The Region
Local reporting and seismic networks say people felt mild shaking on Vancouver Island and across Puget Sound, with reports from Victoria, Bellingham, Port Townsend, Seattle and Tacoma, as reported by FOX 13 Seattle. Officials and regional outlets noted no immediate injuries or property damage and that no tsunami warnings were issued following the quake, per CityNews Vancouver.
Why Vancouver Island Quakes Matter
Shallow offshore earthquakes can be felt over a wide area even when they cause little damage, since seismic waves travel efficiently through the crust beneath the ocean. Natural Resources Canada and its Earthquakes Canada service note the region’s long seismic history, including a damaging magnitude-7.3 event on Vancouver Island in 1946, which helps explain why northern Island quakes are often noticed across the border.
What To Do If You Felt It
If you experienced shaking, scientists ask that you file a report with the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel It?” system to help map shaking intensity. The site offers a short questionnaire for eyewitness accounts (U.S. Geological Survey). Coastal residents should monitor local emergency channels and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center for official guidance, although authorities said there was no tsunami threat tied to this event.
