Earthquakes Canada has reported a 3.9-magnitude earthquake north of Shawville, Quebec, on Tuesday afternoon. Residents in Ottawa, Maniwaki, and Pembroke felt the quake around 12:36 p.m., with most describing the shaking as mild. Earthquakes of this size are commonly felt in the area but typically do not cause significant damage.

According to historical government records, the strongest local earthquake in the past 127 years was a magnitude 5.6 quake in September 1944. Events in 2010 and 2013 registered around a magnitude of 5, with major earthquakes classified as those of magnitude 7 and above.

Briony Baxter, a Pembroke resident, was having lunch at home when she felt the house shake, causing her pets to react. She described hearing noises from the basement and witnessing the house tremble for about a minute. While no items fell off the walls, Baxter was certain it was an earthquake and noted that it was distinct from military activities in the area. The recent quake occurred in a seismic zone in western Quebec where a magnitude 5.2 event had been documented in 2013, according to seismologist Michal Koraj, who mentioned that damage typically begins at around a magnitude of 5.