Late on Sunday, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake rumbled beneath the ocean waters off the coast of Vancouver Island, according to Earthquakes Canada. The quake, occurring at 11:41 p.m. local time, was situated 219 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy at the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
The seismic event struck approximately 10 kilometres below the ocean floor, reassuringly, with no threat of a tsunami, as confirmed by the federal agency. Despite its underwater origin, the quake was felt in various regions, reaching as far as Metro Vancouver, over 450 kilometres to the southeast.
The epicentre of the earthquake lies close to significant communities on Vancouver Island, such as Campbell River and Port Alberni, located 300 and 330 kilometres away, respectively. Reports of shaking were also noted in the northern part of the island.
Published by The Canadian Press on July 20, 2026.