Earthquake hits BC coast

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – An earthquake has hit BC and Natural Resources Canada says it measured 4.3 striking at 11:39 p.m. The US Geological Survey, however, says it measured 4.8 and was centred about 20 kilometres north of Victoria.

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

The City of Vancouver has tweeted that there are “no known reports of significant earthquake damage.”

Chuck lives in Sidney and called our newsroom after the earthquake.

“I was sitting on my computer and I thought that the people upstairs were moving furniture. Then, all of a sudden, it was a big rumble.. Born and raised here, and it’s the first time in my life — at 41 years old — I’ve ever felt an earthquake here.”

“I was in bed. It was like I was on a bowl of jelly — everything rattled and shook,” says Louella, who called NEWS 1130 from Abbotsford.

“It felt like a truck hitting the house, at first. I thought a train maybe derailed,” says a caller from Coquitlam.

“This is about the third earthquake I’ve felt since I’ve been here in BC and this was every bit as bad as one that did do damage, previously,” she tells us.

“The whole building shook. I’ve never felt it like that in Vancouver before. I used to live in San Francisco. This was a pretty solid jolt,” says a woman who lives in the Coal Harbour area of Vancouver.

“It felt like somebody dropped a heavy weight or something on the floor above. I was just sitting here, reading a book and I definitely felt it. It was quite a shake,” says a caller from Burnaby.

Marilyn called our newsroom, after feeling the earthquake all the way out in Chilliwack. “I was standing by my china cabinet and I felt like it was going to fall over. I put my hand out to steady it, just in case… I had some vases up at the top — they were rattling up there.”

“I spent a lot of time in Japan… I can honestly say… I’ve never felt as strong an earthquake. It was strong. My whole house basically shook for about 10 seconds,” says David in Burnaby.

Emergency officials are reminding people not to call 9-1-1 unless it is an absolute emergency.

There were no power disruptions as a result of the earthquake, with BC Hydro reporting no major issues.

However, the Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines were not unning, as TransLink crews worked to ensure the guideways were safe.The Canada Line was not affected.

The Government of Canada has put together an online Emergency Preparedness Guide, including details on what should be included in your emergency plan and how to get an emergency kit.

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