Shallow M5.5 earthquake hits offshore British Columbia, Canada

A shallow M5.5 earthquake was recorded at 04:41 UTC on September 28, 2026, approximately 204 km (127 miles) west-southwest of Port McNeill, Canada. The earthquake was measured at a depth of 11.0 km (6.8 miles), based on information from the USGS.

The coordinates of the epicenter were reported as 50.2°N, 129.9°W, positioning it offshore, in the region west of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This area is a part of the seismically active Pacific margin of western Canada.

Given the offshore location, the region may include critical infrastructure such as maritime navigation routes, commercial ports, and energy pipelines in the surrounding coastal areas. Major population centers are located some distance away on Vancouver Island and the mainland.

There is a tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

The significance index is 465 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The affected region is part of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the Juan de Fuca Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate. This area is known for frequent seismic activity due to tectonic plate interactions along the Pacific margin.

This information was last updated at 04:47 UTC on September 28, 2026.