A 7.7 magnitude earthquake has slammed British Columbia, the Pacific coast province of Canada. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake hit after 8 p.m. about 86 miles south of Masset in the Haida Gwaii region, at a depth of around ten and a half, and Earthquake Canada states that it was felt across most of British Columbia. No serious damage has been reported.
There is a minor tsunami warning issued for most of the United States western coastline and Alaska. Reuters reports,
“It was felt across much of north-central B.C., including Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, and Houston. There have been no reports of damage at this time,” the agency said in a statement on its website.
The quake was not felt in the larger cities of Victoria and Vancouver in the south, a resident in each city told Reuters.
The U.S. National Weather Service’s West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center stated that it was a “small tsunami” that was registered on a deep ocean pressure sensor, but that ““Those feeling the earth shake, seeing unusual wave action or the water level rising or receding may have only a few minutes before the tsunami arrival and should move immediately.”
USA Today reports that “The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska says it’s trying to warn everyone with a boat on the water to prepare for a potential tsunami,” so there is danger for boats at this time.
Google provides details about the specific warnings here, including estimated times of arrival and potential wave heights.
Given that the election is in only a few days and with the “Frankenstorm” headed for the eastern United States coastline, it appears the weather has no respect for American politics. I wonder which of the current batch of GOP politicians will be the first to spin these disasters against mostly blue states as an “act of God?”
UPDATE: Evacuations are underway in Hawaii, where residents are being told to move to higher ground. Successions of waves are expected, some up to seven feet in height. Multiple news sources are reporting that massive flooding may be expected.
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