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'Loud rumble': 2.2 magnitude earthquake strikes B.C. interior

The earthquake struck at a depth of eight kilometres and was lightly felt throughout the South Okanagan, according to the federal government.

 A string of light earthquakes hit the west coast of Haida Gwaii Saturday morning. Photo: ShutterstockSeismograph with paper in action / Shutterstock

UPDATE 10:25 a.m.

Natural Resources Canada says a 2.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Okanagan Falls area at 1:36 a.m. Thursday.

The earthquake struck at a depth of eight kilometres and was lightly felt throughout the South Okanagan, the federal government added. Residents in the region took to social media to report the rumbling.

No damage was reported or would be expected.


ORIGINAL 9:40 a.m.

The South Okanagan was rattled awake early Thursday morning by a possible earthquake.

Residents in Penticton, Summerland and Oliver took to social media around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to report a loud rumble.

Around the same time, the United States Geological Survey reports a 1.5 quake struck in Eureka, Montana.

A quake of that size, however, would typically not be felt by people living at the epicentre, nevermind more than 300 kilometres away in the Okanagan. An earthquake usually needs to be around 2.5 to be felt, although it is possible the Montana quake was measured smaller than it actually was.

Earthquakes Canada has not listed any recent earthquakes in the area.

Castanet will update if more information becomes available.