4.5 magnitude earthquake hits near Fort St. John

Residents of Fort St. John and the Peace region reported trembling after the magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit the area on Thursday night.

The earthquake struck 16 kilometers southwest of Fort St. John at 5:27 pm. PT, (18:27 pm), according to Earthquakes Canada.

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The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The agency said the tremors were felt in Fort St. John, Taylor, Chetwynd and Dawson Creek.

One resident described the earthquake as a "big rolling wave," while another said that he felt that "his whole building was shaking as if the top floor was going to fall."

Pacific Geoscience Center seismologist John Cbadidy said the quake was followed by a pair of aftershocks at 18:06. PT and 18:15 PT, both in the magnitude 3.5 to 4.0.

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BC The Oil and Gas Commission stated that it was aware of the earthquake and was seeking to establish some link between it and the hydraulic fracturing operations in the area.

BC Hydro says there have been no casualties at the C site dam, but that it has deployed a team to inspect the site for any damage or impact on operations.

He says that any impact will probably not be clear until the morning when crews can enjoy the light of day.

There was no immediate report of serious damage.