On Thursday Night an M4.0 Earthquake struck in the Coastal Waters Of Southeast Alaska And British Columbia near Bellingham (The United States).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 26th, 2024. Last updated October 10th, 2024.

A M4.0 earthquake struck in the Coastal Waters Of Southeast Alaska And British Columbia 37 miles from Bellingham, The United States in the night of Thursday September 26th, 2024. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Around 4.8 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another nearby country is Canada.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Coastal Waters Of Southeast Alaska And British Columbia, right off the coast of The United States (5 mi offshore), 37 miles west-southwest of Bellingham in Washington. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 52 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Sep 26, 2024 04:05 (Vancouver Time) - Sep 26, 2024 11:05 Universal Time.
Location:	18 km NNE of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Coordinates 48°34'50"N 123°14'52"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 4.0 Detected by 12 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.154 .
Depth:	52 km (32 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 4.8 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 4.8 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 19,770 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level I was experienced by a large group of people (around 4.6 million). In their region, not noticeable and no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Canada .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
4,555,000	I	Not noticable	None
1,492,000	II	Very weak	None
3,239,000	III	Weak	Probably none
19,770	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Canada and The United States are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Located 15 kilometer (9 mi) north-northeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Oak Bay (British Columbia, Canada) is the nearest significant population center. Oak Bay experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Victoria is located 18 km to the south-southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Vancouver is located 75 km to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Surrey is located 66 km to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
15 km (9 mi) SSW from epicenter	Oak Bay British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
18 km (11 mi) SSW from epicenter	Victoria British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
20 km (12 mi) SW from epicenter	Esquimalt British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
24 km (15 mi) SW from epicenter	Langford British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
24 km (15 mi) SW from epicenter	Colwood British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
40 km (25 mi) WNW from epicenter	Duncan British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
43 km (27 mi) NW from epicenter	North Cowichan British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
29 mi (47 km) E from epicenter	Anacortes Washington, The United States.	III Weak
50 km (31 mi) NNE from epicenter	Tsawwassen British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
33 mi (53 km) SSW from epicenter	Port Angeles Washington, The United States.	III Weak
34 mi (55 km) SE from epicenter	Oak Harbor Washington, The United States.	II Weak
58 km (36 mi) NNE from epicenter	Ladner British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
37 mi (59 km) ENE from epicenter	Bellingham Washington, The United States.	III Weak
59 km (37 mi) NE from epicenter	White Rock British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
66 km (41 mi) NNE from epicenter	Surrey British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
66 km (41 mi) N from epicenter	Richmond British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
67 km (42 mi) NNE from epicenter	Delta British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
43 mi (70 km) ESE from epicenter	Mount Vernon Washington, The United States.	II Weak
72 km (45 mi) NE from epicenter	Langley British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
74 km (46 mi) NNE from epicenter	New Westminster British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
75 km (47 mi) N from epicenter	Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
79 km (49 mi) NNE from epicenter	Burnaby British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
79 km (49 mi) NE from epicenter	Walnut Grove British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
79 km (49 mi) N from epicenter	West End British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
82 km (51 mi) NNE from epicenter	Pitt Meadows British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
82 km (51 mi) NW from epicenter	Nanaimo British Columbia, Canada.	II Weak
83 km (52 mi) N from epicenter	North Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
84 km (52 mi) NNE from epicenter	Port Moody British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
84 km (52 mi) NNE from epicenter	Port Coquitlam British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
85 km (53 mi) NNE from epicenter	Maple Ridge British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
85 km (53 mi) NNE from epicenter	Coquitlam British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
88 km (55 mi) N from epicenter	West Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
90 km (56 mi) NE from epicenter	Abbotsford British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
92 km (57 mi) NE from epicenter	Mission British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
58 mi (93 km) ESE from epicenter	Arlington Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
62 mi (99 km) SE from epicenter	Mukilteo Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
62 mi (99 km) SE from epicenter	Marysville Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
63 mi (102 km) SE from epicenter	Everett Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
66 mi (107 km) SE from epicenter	Edmonds Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
68 mi (109 km) SE from epicenter	Lynnwood Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
71 mi (114 km) SE from epicenter	Shoreline Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
115 km (71 mi) NE from epicenter	Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada.	III Weak
74 mi (119 km) SE from epicenter	Bothell Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
78 mi (126 km) SE from epicenter	Kirkland Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
80 mi (128 km) SSE from epicenter	Seattle Washington, The United States.
81 mi (131 km) SE from epicenter	Redmond Washington, The United States.	I Not felt
83 mi (133 km) SE from epicenter	Bellevue Washington, The United States.
89 mi (144 km) SSE from epicenter	Renton Washington, The United States.
95 mi (153 km) SSE from epicenter	Kent Washington, The United States.
97 mi (156 km) SSE from epicenter	Federal Way Washington, The United States.
99 mi (159 km) SSE from epicenter	Tacoma Washington, The United States.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IV.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1532 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1532 people have reported shaking in 29 places, all within Canada.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: 614 people.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: 346 people.
Sidney, British Columbia, Canada: 167 people.
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada: 96 people.
Walnut Grove, British Columbia, Canada: 93 people.
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada: 66 people.
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada: 38 people.
Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, Canada: 30 people.
Duncan, British Columbia, Canada: 19 people.
Chemainus, British Columbia, Canada: 11 people.

Risk of aftershocks?

We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since December 24th, 2023, when a 4 magnitude earthquake hit 87 km (54 mi) further south-southeast. An even stronger magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck on November 26th, 2022.

In total, 11 earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every year.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 4. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 52 km (32 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 10/10/24 00:08 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.