From a rumble to an explosion sound
Small earthquake off Yarmouth felt by many
Some people felt a rumble. Some said it sounded like thunder. Others said it sounded like an explosion. And many people described hearing two loud rumblings about 30 seconds apart.
And then others didn’t notice, feel or hear anything at all.
For those who did notice, it was an earthquake they felt.
For those who didn’t notice, it was an earthquake they missed.
According to the Earthquakes Canada site of Natural Resources Canada’s website, a 2.5-magnitude occurred around 1:48 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The website says the offshore earthquake’s location was around 32 kilometres west of Yarmouth. It was said to be at a depth of 18 kilometres at a latitude of 43.86 north and a longitude of 66.51 west.
“I live in Sandford and thought my furnace blew up in my basement with the first boom. The next one, I thought a dump truck lost its load up the road from my house. Best (way) I can describe it,” said Parnell LeBlanc when we asked Yarmouth County residents for their descriptions of what they experienced.
On social media, people described similar and different observances. Here is a sampling from the Tri-County Vanguard Facebook page.
“My husband felt it while I was in town. We live on the Edson Foote Road. He says he heard rumbling like thunder or like something blew up, while the house shook,” said Cher Nickerson.
Theresa Gallagher said at first it sounded like a bunch of 18-wheeler trucks going down Argyle Street within the town.
“House kind of jiggled slightly, I heard a couple of rumbling noises,” she said.
Kent Bain described hearing two very loud rumblings about 30 seconds apart. It sounded like an explosion, he said.
Susan Moores was also one of many who described hearing two rumblings about 30 seconds apart.
“I thought something exploded on the lower level of our house. Dogs were going crazy,” said Keltie Hatfield. “Then another one came and I knew it wasn’t something in our house — it was like thunder underneath the house.”
Tony Milliard described two loud bangs and weird vibrations.
“Also all the birds in the yard took off and scattered as if a hawk had flown through the yard. Most odd. I went outside to look around,” he said, calling it a very strange occurrence.
Others said the buildings they were inside shook. Some said it sounded like a very large plane flying overhead. Some people reported checking on furnaces in their homes to see if they had blown up. Other people thought people living in upstairs apartments were moving heavy furniture.
Until people started comparing notes on social media, many people weren’t sure what it was they had heard at the time it happened.
“I heard a loud rumble and my house shook a little bit. I honestly thought it was just a big construction vehicle across the road, as there has been construction going on for some time now,” said Sarah Bullerwell. “The construction has shaken our house before, but this was louder and more intense.”
People also described their pets being bothered when the earthquake occurred.
“The dog shivered and shook,” said Anita Banks. “Didn’t know what she could hear. I didn’t hear anything.”
People in many areas of Yarmouth County felt or experienced something. Areas where people described feeling or hearing something included Port Maitland, Darlings Lake, Overton, Wellington, Arcadia, Brooklyn, Cape Forchu, South Cheggogin, South Ohio and so on. It was a long list.
But it was also a mixed bag. While some people said they heard or felt something within the town, others said they were in town and didn’t notice anything at all.
“I felt it in Tusket,” said one person.
“Never felt anything in Tusket,” said another.
“Heard it in Rockville,” said Melanie Hardy. “Was sitting on the couch and thought maybe snow or ice was falling off the roof. And then it did it again. Had no idea what to think it could have been.”
“Didn’t feel anything here, Argyle Sound Road near West Pubnico,” said Steve Lesway. “We’re right on the water.”
EARTHQUAKES NOT UNCOMMON
There have been other earthquakes off of Yarmouth and southwestern Nova Scotia in recent years.
“Was sitting on the couch and thought maybe snow or ice was falling off the roof.” Melanie Hardy
On July 1, 2015, a 3.8-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Nova Scotia. People described hearing a prolonged rumbling sound that got increasingly louder until it culminated into a large bang, which to many people it sounded like an explosion. People reported that the house or building they were inside of shook. For many, it felt like a violent jolt. Although still a weak earthquake, at 3.8 it was one of the top five “strongest” magnitude earthquakes recorded in Canada over a previous 30-day span at the time — during which there had been around 315 earthquakes recorded. That Canada Day earthquake was said to have occurred around 42 kilometres northwest of Yarmouth, or 60 kilometres southwest of Digby Neck.
On June 9, 2016, a 3.2-magnitude earthquake happened around 19 kilometres north of Yarmouth. During that incident, many people said they heard a loud rumble. In some cases, people said they felt their house shake or vibrate.
On Aug. 25, 2017, there was a 2.9-magnitude earthquake 41 kilometres NWN of Yarmouth. Some residents in the Clare region described hearing rumbling and noticing their power flickered.
On Sept. 29, 2018, there was a 3.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred off the shore of Mavillette, Digby County. People experienced a loud rumbling sound, followed by what they described as a sudden bang or violent jolt. The depth of that earthquake was recorded at 10 kilometres.
Other times earthquakes happened and went largely unnoticed by the public, such as in June 2015 when 2.5 and 2.9 earthquakes occurred around the Digby area. Not many people reported feeling anything.
Small earthquakes happen throughout Canada all of the time, says Earthquakes Canada. The majority go unnoticed by the public or are not “felt.”
Still, Earthquakes Canada is always interested in finding out what people did experience.
When earthquakes happen, the public is encouraged to report it to Earthquakes Canada and to fill out a questionnaire on their website.
“You can help provide information about the extent of shaking and damage for earthquakes in Canada,” the website reads. “The specific details you may provide will help us determine how your area may respond to future earthquakes.”
Yarmouth wasn’t the only place to experience an earthquake on Feb. 10. There was a 2.4-magnitude earthquake reported later in the day in Ontario. Shortly before the earthquake off Yarmouth, there was a 4.9-magnitude quake in the southern Yukon territory. On its website, Earthquakes Canada said that quake resulted in no damage and it was not felt.