M6.6

M 6.6 - 254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada

Strong Earthquake · November 18, 2009 · 254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada

Key Insights

•This M6.6 event ranks #49 of 470 earthquakes by magnitude, stronger than 90% of recorded US events.
•At M6.6, this is 0.9 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.
•At 17.0 km depth, this is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes typically cause stronger ground shaking and more damage than deeper events (avg depth: 27 km).
•A USGS significance score of 726 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Depth

17.0 km

Tsunami

Felt Reports

123

Significance

726

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	M6.6(mwc)
Classification	Strong Earthquake
Location	254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada
Date & Time	November 18, 2009 00:30:47
Coordinates	52.1230N, 131.3950W
Depth	17.0 km (Shallow)
Tsunami	No
Felt Reports	123 reports submitted to USGS
CDI (Community Intensity)	4.5
Significance Score	726 / 3,000
Status	reviewed

Magnitude Scale Context

Minor

3-3.9

Light

4-4.9

Moderate

5-5.9

Strong

6-6.9

Major

At M6.6, this is classified as a Strong earthquake. Earthquakes of this size can cause severe damage in populated areas within tens of miles of the epicenter.

Official USGS Page: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000h44s

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong was the 254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada earthquake?

The 254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada earthquake had a magnitude of 6.6 mwc, classified as a "Strong" earthquake on the magnitude scale. Earthquakes of this size can cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure over a wide area.

Where exactly did this earthquake occur and how deep was it?

This earthquake struck at coordinates 52.1230N, 131.3950W, at a depth of 17.0 km. Shallow earthquakes (under 20 km) tend to cause more surface damage than deeper events.

Did this earthquake trigger a tsunami warning?

No tsunami warning was issued for this earthquake. While the magnitude was significant, the location and depth characteristics did not warrant a tsunami advisory.

How many people felt this earthquake?

123 people submitted felt reports to the USGS for this earthquake. The Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) reached 4.5, indicating moderate shaking felt by most people indoors.

When did this earthquake happen and how significant was it?

This earthquake occurred on November 18, 2009 at 00:30:47. The USGS assigned it a significance score of 726 out of a possible 3,000, which factors in magnitude, felt reports, and potential impact. This is a moderately significant seismic event.

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Key Insights

•This M6.6 event ranks #49 of 470 earthquakes by magnitude, stronger than 90% of recorded US events.

•At M6.6, this is 0.9 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.

•At 17.0 km depth, this is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes typically cause stronger ground shaking and more damage than deeper events (avg depth: 27 km).

•A USGS significance score of 726 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude

M6.6(mwc)

Classification

Strong Earthquake

Location

254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada

Date & Time

November 18, 2009 00:30:47

Coordinates

52.1230N, 131.3950W

Depth

17.0 km (Shallow)

Tsunami

Felt Reports

123 reports submitted to USGS

CDI (Community Intensity)

4.5

Significance Score

726 / 3,000

Status

reviewed