Earthquake reported in northwestern Alberta
Posted Jan 12, 2016 12:53 pm.
Last Updated Jan 12, 2016 4:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An earthquake was reported in northwestern Alberta, registering a 4.5 on the Richter scale.
The quake struck around 11:30 Tuesday morning, but there were no reports of injuries.
John Cassidy, a seismologist with National Resources Canada told 660 NEWS that people nearby may have felt it.
“If you live nearby, perhaps within 50 or 100 kilometers, you would feel the shaking from this earthquake,” Gray explained. “It might feel like a truck has hit your house or something and there would be sort of a jolting motion. It wouldn’t be long shaking, but it would be noticeable.”
The Alberta Energy Regulator says it can’t confirm whether or not the earthquake in the region was caused by fracking.
As per a change in rules last February, it has now ordered a halt of any fracking operations in the area until further notice.
Spokesperson Carrie Rosa told 660 NEWS that investigators are on their way to the scene.
“They will not be allowed to resume operations until we have approved their plans to ensure that operations can continue safely without inducing further seismic activity,” Rosa explained.
The company in the area, Repsol, can’t continue until it has been given the go ahead by AER investigators.
“We’ll be working with the company to make sure that all safety and environmental requirements are met and we will be investigating as well.”
There are no reports of any significant damage but the aftershocks may have been felt from as far off as St. Albert.
