Minor Earthquake Strikes Near Saint-Jérôme, Quebec

On a recent morning, a minor earthquake of magnitude 2.7 was recorded approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. The earthquake was marginally felt across the Laurentians region, according to reports by Seismes Canada, the national agency responsible for monitoring seismic activity.

Seismes Canada reported receiving more than 300 notifications from residents who experienced the tremor. Individuals in the Laurentians, Greater Montreal, and Outaouais areas noted that the quake was weakly felt, with around 60 people acknowledging its presence. Furthermore, the agency received three reports of moderate impact.

This seismic event follows another recent, mild tremor that occurred near Beaupré in the greater Quebec City region. It took place roughly 20 kilometers south of Beaupré only days before this latest occurrence.

Historical seismic activity in Quebec includes a larger earthquake in Pierreville, between Drummondville and Sorel-Tracy, which took place on September 1. The Pierreville quake was registered at a depth of 18 kilometers and was notably felt in regions such as Centre-du-Québec, Montérégie, Montreal Island, Quebec City, and as far as the Laurentians.

While the recent events have been minor, Quebec has experienced more significant seismic occurrences in the past. The most substantial modern earthquake in the region occurred in 1935, with a magnitude of 6.1 in Témiscaming, Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Another notable quake, with a magnitude of 5.9, took place in Saguenay in 1988, capable of being felt across vast areas, including Montreal, Ottawa, and parts of the United States.

Despite causing considerable material damage in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area during the 1988 quake, no fatalities occurred, largely because it happened in the evening when most individuals were at home.

Overall, the seismic risk in Quebec remains low, with most earthquakes being of minor intensity, lasting only a few seconds, and infrequently causing damage. The primary seismic zones in Quebec include Charlevoix-Kamouraska, the western Quebec region — stretching from the Ottawa Valley to the areas between Montreal and Témiscamingue, including the Laurentians — and the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Côte-Nord regions.