Earthquake felt in Kitchener Waterloo, from New York to Montreal

I was just having lunch with a client, and the restaurant started shaking.  That was *freaky*

There was just an earthquake in South Western Ontario, felt in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, New York, and here where I am, in Kitchener Waterloo.  That is a rather large span.  No words on aftershocks yet. 

Overheard on Twitter from @jtorrespants: “felt as far west as Kitchener, east as Ontario/Quebec border, north as Aurora, and south as Buffalo!”

First reports I’m hearing are that it was a 5.5 magnitude quake [correction: 5.0] . I have heard rumours of damages, but nothing confirmed yet in town. I hope no one was injured here or anywhere else!

Update: From The Record:

 Waterloo Region is feeling the effects of what appears to be an earthquake.

Residents in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge have reported tremors that began after 1:30 p.m.

Reports of tremors have been notes from as far away as Hamilton and Milton.

No injuries have yet been reported.

Update II: From KWnow.ca:

Kitchener Waterloo Earthquake zone

It has been confirmed that a 5.0 magnitude earthquake has shaken centres across Ontario. It was originally reported as a 5.5 but was then downgraded.

At 1:42 pm the quake hit north of Ottawa but then rolled across the province making rumbling stops in areas including: Stratford, Kitchener Waterloo Cambridge, Guelph, Niagara, Windsor, Toronto, and as far away as Chicago. And in the other direction, parts of the province of Quebec and Montreal.

Locally, the quake lasted for a maximum of 30 seconds in harder hit areas.Waterloo felt the full punch, while parts of Kitchener and Cambridge felt only a slight tremor. In Waterloo, some major businesses ordered their staff outside on the street for fear of after shocks and possibly falling debris.

On Capital Hill the quake rattled downtown buildings. Some government employees have been sent home as the power was knocked out in parts of the downtown core. There have been reports of paintings falling off walls, broken windows, toppled chimneys and televisions falling off stands.

According to meteorologists at The Weather Network aftershocks are possible, however it’s doubtful that they will be significant

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