Earthquake rattles Southern Alberta and north-west U.S.

Mar 31, 2020 | 7:54 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — Did you feel it? For many residents across southern Alberta, including Calgary, and much of the U.S. north-west, the earth moved early Tuesday (Mar 31) evening. The temblor was felt as far west and Vancouver and Seattle.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirms a large earthquake struck north of Boise, Idaho, Tuesday just before 5:00-pm.

The USGS reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor was centered 73 miles (118 kilometers) northeast of Meridian, Idaho, near the rural mountain town of Stanley.

Marcus Smith, an emergency room health unit coordinator at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, said the hospital, about 65 miles (104 kilometers) south of the epicenter, shook but the quake didn’t interfere with the treatment of any patients.

The hospital in Blaine County is on the front line of Idaho’s coronavirus outbreak, in a region with the highest per-capita rates of known COVID-19 cases in the nation outside of New York City and surrounding counties.

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

“It felt like a wave going through the ground, so I knew right away what it was. It just felt like waves going through the ground,” said Smith.

The earthquake is added stress during an already stressful time for the region, but Smith said everything seemed fine, for now. “Until the next one, I guess,” Smith said. “I mean, that’s what we do. We’re all good.”

Reports of the earthquake being felt in Cranbrook, B.C., Lethbridge, Calgary and surrounding areas have been confirmed by the USGS, which has a “Felt Report” you can fill out.

At this point, there are no reports of damage but, the USGS indicates there is a chance of aftershocks.

by Dori Modney with files from the Associated Press