A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, on March 25, 2026. The earthquake occurred at 6:25 a.m. about 216 kilometres south-southwest of the city and was centered near the southern end of Haida Gwaii.
According to Earthquakes Canada, the tremor happened at a depth of about 10 kilometres beneath the ocean floor. Local officials and the U.S. Geological Survey reported that there were no injuries or damage to property following the event.
Emergency Info BC classified the shaking as weak, with some residents on Haida Gwaii reporting light vibrations while many others felt nothing at all. The quake occurred along the Queen Charlotte Fault, which is the underwater boundary where the Pacific and North American tectonic plates meet and slide past one another.
This fault line was the site of Canada’s largest historical earthquake in 1949, which reached a magnitude of 8.1. The Pacific Coast remains the most active earthquake zone in the country, with over 100 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or greater recorded in the offshore region over the last 70 years.
Residents are encouraged to use the event as a reminder to review their home safety plans. The community regularly prepares for such events through the Great British Columbia ShakeOut and quarterly meetings held by the Prince Rupert Emergency Preparedness Committee.
