Earthquake strikes off British Columbia coast

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Thursday, 28 August 2008 13:42:01

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An earthquake off Canada's west coast has shaken the area around Vancouver Island. The quake Thursday is the latest in a series of coastal tremors since Monday.

The latest quake had a magnitude of 6.1 and struck 97 miles west of Port Hardy, off the north coast of Vancouver Island.

This follows two quakes on Wednesday in the same area, both with magnitudes of around five.

In total, there have been 18 quakes in the region this week.

Federal seismologists say the tremors are occurring in what's called a "seismically active" region, and they are too far offshore to be felt on land and too small to generate a tsunami.