3.6-magnitude earthquake recorded in Canada, felt more than 100 miles away, USGS says
Reports of shaking are coming in from southeastern Canada and into New York as officials recorded a 3.6-magnitude earthquake in Québec, the U.S. Geological Survey reported March 19.
The earthquake hit just before noon Wednesday at Lac à Bastien, according to USGS.
The lake is about a 130-mile drive northeast of Canada’s capital city of Ottawa and about a 125-mile drive northwest from Montreal.
More than 87 people have reported feeling the 6.2-mile-deep quake as “weak” or “light” shaking, as of 2:30 p.m. EDT, according to USGS.
People felt shaking more than 100 miles from the site of the initial earthquake, according to USGS, including reports from Churubusco, New York (115 miles away), Malone, New York (123 miles away), and Beloeil, Québec, Canada (106 miles away).
Natural Resources Canada identifies more than 5,000 earthquakes in the country each year, but only about 50 of them are felt and damage is rare, according to the agency.
What to know about earthquakes
Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It replaces the old Richter scale.
Quakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude are often felt but rarely cause much damage, according to Michigan Tech. Quakes below 2.5 magnitude are seldom felt by most people.
Earthquakes’ sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. They can happen anywhere, but they’re most common in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico and Washington, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
If an earthquake strikes, it’s best to protect yourself right away. Here are tips from experts:
If you’re in a car: Pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you’re in bed: Turn face-down and cover your head with a pillow.
If you’re outdoors: Stay away from buildings. Don’t go inside.
If you’re inside: Stay and don’t run outdoors. Stay away from doorways.
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
“Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something sturdy,” officials say. “If you’re using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops.”
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
Once under a table, officials say you should hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it.
“There can be serious hazards after an earthquake, such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines,” officials say. “Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM with the headline "3.6-magnitude earthquake recorded in Canada, felt more than 100 miles away, USGS says."
