Earthquake warning system providing seconds of notice activated in B.C.

For years, Metro Vancouver has been worrying about the threat of the “Big One,” a megathrust earthquake expected to hit coastal B.C. one day.

But before it finally hits, residents could get a precious warning.

An earthquake early detection system has been activated in British Columbia to provide the public and infrastructure managers with up to “tens of seconds” of notice ahead of a potentially harmful tremor.

Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said when a strong earthquake is detected, alerts will be transmitted automatically to British Columbians via cellphones, radio and televisions.

He said the system, jointly announced by the federal and B.C. governments Thursday, would also allow managers of critical infrastructure to take immediate action such as halting traffic from driving onto bridges or into tunnels.

"Every year in Canada, nearly 5,000 earthquakes are recorded," Wilkinson said at a news conference in Richmond, B.C.

"Fortunately, most of these are small and pose no serious threat, but large damaging earthquakes can and will occur," said Wilkinson, adding that the most potentially damaging tremors in Canada could occur in western B.C., as well as the Ottawa-Québec City corridor.

B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma said seismologists had been warning for decades of a major earthquake in the province, and the new system can give “seconds, to tens of seconds” of advance warning for people to "drop, cover and hold on."

“These crucial seconds might not sound like a lot right now, but they will mean life and death for many people during an extreme earthquake,” said Ma.

She said British Columbians have witnessed emergencies over the past few years at a greater rate than ever, largely driven by climate change.

“Earthquakes aren’t exactly a climate change hazard, but in addition to all of the other climate-driven hazards, it means that British Columbians need to be more prepared than before,” said Ma.

She said the new earthquake warning system will allow every corner of the province to be "prepared and resilient."

Edwin Nissen, professor and Canada Research Chair at the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria, said B.C. communities such as Tofino, Port Alberni and Victoria are at high risk if a large earthquake strikes because of their proximity to the West Coast.

Places in the southern suburbs of Metro Vancouver such as Delta and Surrey will also likely “shake like a jelly” when a seismic wave hits, Nissen said, so having the early warning system in place is "a very exciting development."

But Nissen said it’s also important to note that earthquake early warning systems are just part of emergency response, and people still need to get their toolkit ready.

He said the early warning won't stop buildings from being damaged, and therefore the province still needs stronger buildings.

“We need to retrofit older buildings, especially schools and hospitals, B.C. Parliament, the Crystal swimming pool here in Victoria," said Nissen. "There are lots of older buildings that are certainly vulnerable to the ground shaking, and the government will continue to have to retrofit those buildings.”

The new system is part of the federal government’s $36 million plan to develop a warning system to protect regions vulnerable to earthquakes.

Wilkinson said the system will be expanded later this year to Southern Quebec and Eastern Ontario.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.