The good news is that there is no major damage reported from the Vancouver Island Earthquake, but not only that, smaller quakes in the vicinity of the west coast are in fact a good thing. It means the tectonic pressure is being released and in fact can prevent a large earthquake happening in the future. Alas, it could also mean that there may be more earthquakes coming.

Vancouver Island Earthquake 1946

Vancouver Island has seen its share of big earthquakes. In fact, back in 1946, an earthquake measuring 7.3 was recorded on June 23rd. Two deaths were recorded from this quake, who’s epicenter was located on the aptly named Forbidden Plateau area of central Vancouver Island, west of Courtenay and Campbell River. This quake was felt as far away as Oregon in the States.

The two deaths were from a capsizing boat and a heart attack. Vancouver Island residents were scared and many ran out into the streets in terror. Luckily, today’s earthquake was not so fatal and buildings seemed to hold together, unlike in 1946 when there was extensive damage to buildings, such as the Bank of Montreal building (below).

1946 Earthquake damage on Vancouver Island

Many people were concerned that Vancouver Island may break off and sink, but today’s quake just proves how ridiculous that idea is. In a really big earthquake, it is quite possible that the seafloor that is just offshore from the island may be lifted up and it is possible that the coastal area could sink and at the worst, the sinking would be only a few meters. Residents living at the beach may experience some flooding but the likelihood of the island crumbling into the sea is not very likely at all.  Land slides in the ocean itself is possible which may cause smaller scale tsunami type affects which may contribute to localised flooding.

All in all, a relatively small quake similar to the ones we feel here in Central America and no reports of major damage or loss of life.

Researchers at UC Davis have discovered microbes that can quite literally help the process of rock forming by converting lose sediment into the hard stuff. Although only tested on a lab scale, Bacillus Pasteurii, could be the answer to soil liquefaction caused my earthquakes.

It is suggested that the majority of the destruction from a Vancouver Earthquake could come in the form of mass movement or soil/earth liquefaction, a process where soft deposits such as clay, are converted to a jellylike state by severe shaking causing a situation where structures (buildings) could sink and collapse. Eeeeek!

Check out the other articles about a potential Vancouver earthquake here:

• Vancouver earthquake update
• Vancouver Earthquake
• Vancouver Earthquake and Plate Tectonics

Keep up to date with global earthquake activity.

A: Because I’m English!

Sidenote: I am still ruling at foosball in the office. We are currently interviewing for two positions here and any newcomers are going to be looked upon as potential rivals. I am worried because I am only defeated reliably by Quebecer’s. Luckily we’re based in BC, however we do risk being hit by earthquakes.

I think I should buy everyone at work a copy of Zen and the Art of Foosball: A Beginner’s Guide to Table Soccer from Amazon. Oh yeah, check the lil picture to the left :) I really am a previous foosball champion (thanks to Andy for the scan). Don’t hate me because I am good at foosball.

The Juan de Fuca plate is being forced under the North American plate creating a “subduction zone”. This subduction has formed a lot of magnificent mountain areas in the Cascade Volcanic Belt (where volcanic mountains have formed that are not all within the Cascade Range). The movement of one plate beneath each other is never a smooth process and they tend to lock up until it reaches a point where there is so much pressure and stress that it violently moves. It is this mass movement that causes an earthquake.

I can see Mount Baker from my window but there are many other mountains that you may have heard about in and around Vancouver, BC such as:

• Mount Silverthrone
• Devastator Peak
• Mount Fee
• Black Tusk
• Cinder Cone
• Opal Cone
• Mount Garibaldi
• Watts Point

Baker incidentally still shows steam/fume activity from it’s crate but is considered dormant, but wait, didn’t they say that about Mount St. Helens which erupted famously in 1980?

I don’t think we’re going to die but if we were living on Vancouver Island I would be worried, as Vancouver Island is a direct formation resulting from plate tectonic activity. Stop worrying Alyssa! Good reads for this include Global Tectonics and Earth as an Evolving Planetary System. (I believe the latter was on my course reading list at school).

Keep up to date with global earthquake activity.