A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of Canada, US government researchers said. <\/p>\n
The epicenter of the tremor, which occurred at 8:04 pm (0304 GMT Sunday) was located 139 kilometers (86 miles) south of the town of Masset, the US Geological Survey said. <\/p>\n
Numerous aftershocks, some as large as magnitude 4.6, followed the initial quake, Canadian officials reported. <\/p>\n
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no \"destructive widespread tsunami threat\" at this time. <\/p>\n
However, the regional West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a regional warning for coasts located near the epicenter of the earthquake. <\/p>\n
Emergency officials in British Columbia said a small tsunami had been recorded on a deep ocean pressure sensor, but its effect was not immediately known. <\/p>\n
The officials urged residents in low-lying coastal areas to be alert to instructions from local officials and be prepared to move to higher ground. <\/p>\n
Natural Resources Canada said in a statement that the temblor was felt across much of north-central British Columbia, including Haida Gwaii as the Queen Charlotte Islands are otherwise called, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, and Houston. <\/p>\n
\"There have been no reports of damage at this time,\" the ministry added. <\/p>\n
However, experts said tremors exceeding magnitude 7.0 were extremely dangerous. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Major earthquake hits islands off west Canada<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A major 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of Canada, US government researchers said. Continue reading