5.0 magnitude: Rocky Mountain House earthquake upgraded, 2nd largest in Alberta history
A 5.0 magnitude earthquake shook central Alberta Wednesday night.
At approximately 9:23 p.m., Earthquakes Canada reported a 4.1 magnitude earthquake 37 kilometres north of Rocky Mountain House.
That magnitude was upgraded to 5.0 on the Richter scale by Earthquakes Canada on Thursday afternoon.
The upgrade means it was Alberta's second largest on record.
People as far north as Edmonton and as far south as Calgary reported feeling "weak shaking" on Earthquake Canada website's scale of intensity.
"We’ve had reports of people who felt it out in the Leslyville area, certainly in the Arbutus area," Laura Button from the Town of Rocky Mountain House told CTV News Edmonton.
According to Rocky Mountain House's sewer and water supervisor, no damage was done to any of the town's sewage infrastructure.
"Nothing exciting happened, nothing broke," Doug Fraser said.
The tremors didn’t trigger any system alarms at the water treatment plant, and so far no one has reported any private property damage either.
"We had no complications whatsoever," Rocky Mountain House water treatment plant manager Gary Lewsaw told CTV News Edmonton.
One University of Alberta geo-physicist told CTV News Edmonton that seismic activity in central Alberta has increased in the past decade. According to Jeff Gu, that’s worth studying.
"Some of it was linked to gas production, oil production, and some of them were natural, and then there was an earthquake that was linked to wastewater disposal," Gu said.
Alberta’s energy regulator said Wednesday's earthquake was not connected to wells or drilling.
It pegged the epicentre nine kilometres below the surface, which is typically deeper than human-caused earthquakes.
Rocky Mountain House is approximately 139 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.
These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
New Canadian study could be a lifesaver for thousands suffering from CTE
A first-of-its-kind Canadian research study is working towards a major medical breakthrough for a brain disorder, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries, that can only be detected after death.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.