Map of Kalamazoo Mich. BlackburnNews.com file photoMap of Kalamazoo Mich. BlackburnNews.com file photo
Sarnia

Small Earthquake Felt In Ontario

A small earthquake that hit Michigan early Saturday afternoon was felt throughout parts of western Ontario.

The US Geological Survey says a quake hit around 15 km east of Kalamazoo and had a magnitude of 4.2 on the Richter scale.

The USGS says there are no immediate reports of any damage.

"This was a light eathquake. Damage tends to start around magnitude 5.5 or above," says Taimi Mulder, an earthquake seismologist with Natural Resources Canada. "This earthquake, in the world of earthquake seismology, is relitivelly small, but it was certainly large enough to be felt over 100km-200km."

The earthquake, which hit at 12:23pm, could be felt widely across lower portions of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, as well as parts of western Ontario including Windsor, Sarnia and London. There are even reports that it was felt as far away as Owen Sound.

"They don't occur that often (in this area), although there have been a number of earthquakes in the past," says Mulder.

She says the last earthquakes to occur in the Michigan area were a 3.0 magnatude event in February of 2010 and a 2.7 in May of 2010. There was also a 5.5 in 1937.

-With files from Stephanie Chaves

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