A 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit off the west coast of Vancouver Island Wednesday evening, according to the Natural Resources Canada earthquake centre.
The quake hit approximately 180 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy just after 6 p.m., but has not spurred a tsunami warning.
No reports of damage have surfaced yet either, and residents in Tofino, Port Alice and Ucluelet say they did not feel the quake.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake took place at a depth of almost 17 kilometres below sea level, roughly the same as a massive 7.7 magnitude shaker that hit Haida Gwaii late last month.
That quake was felt across much of north-central B.C., and spurred a tsunami warning from Environment Canada.
Evacuation efforts were also started in a few low-lying communities, including Sandspit, Bella Bella and Prince Rupert.
Despite the lack of major damage caused, the quake is considered one of the biggest in Canadian history. Dozens of aftershocks registering as high as 6.3 magnitude followed.
