Did you feel that? If you're in Vancouver and thought you noticed the floor sway just a tiny bit early this morning, you aren't crazy.
A significant magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon at approximately 3:25 AM UTC (7:25 PM PST yesterday for those on local time) on January 16, 2026. While the epicenter was roughly 295 kilometers west of Bandon, Oregon, the energy from a M6.0 event can travel surprisingly far along the coast. It’s the kind of shake that makes you pause and look at your water glass.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a wake-up call. We live in a region where "the big one" is a constant looming shadow, but these smaller, distant jolts are what actually keep us on our toes.
Breaking Down the Earthquake in Vancouver Today
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake was shallow, hitting at a depth of about 10 kilometers. For those of us in British Columbia, we usually don't worry much about Oregon-based tremors, but the Cascadia Subduction Zone doesn't really care about provincial or state lines. This massive fault system stretches 1,000 kilometers from Northern Vancouver Island all the way down to Cape Mendocino in California.
Basically, when one part of the system moves, the whole neighborhood hears about it.
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Why did some people feel it while others didn't?
Seismic waves are finicky. Whether you felt the earthquake in vancouver today depends mostly on where you were standing—or sleeping. If you were on the upper floor of a high-rise in Yaletown or Burnaby, the building’s natural sway might have amplified the motion. If you were on the ground floor of a house built on solid rock in West Vancouver, you likely slept right through it.
The soil type matters too. Parts of Richmond and Delta are built on soft river sediments. These sediments can act like a bowl of Jell-O, shaking much harder and longer than the surrounding bedrock.
The Reality of Recent Seismic Activity
We’ve had a busy start to 2026. Just a couple of weeks ago, on New Year’s Eve, three earthquakes rattled the Yukon-Alaska border, with magnitudes reaching up to 5.7. Those were felt as far south as Whitehorse.
- January 16: M6.0 off the coast of Oregon (felt lightly in parts of the Pacific Northwest).
- January 13: M3.9 near Haines Junction, Yukon.
- January 9: M2.2 located 190 km east of Vancouver.
It’s easy to get complacent because most of these are small. But experts like John Cassidy from Natural Resources Canada often remind us that southwest B.C. is one of the most seismically active areas in the country. We average about 400 earthquakes every year in this specific corner of the province. Most are too deep or too small to notice, but they’re a constant reminder that the plates beneath our feet are stuck and building up immense stress.
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The New Warning System is Live
If you didn't get an alert on your phone this morning, don't panic. The national Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system is designed to trigger only when the shaking is expected to be significant or harmful. For a distant M6.0, the sensors likely determined that the "felt intensity" in Vancouver wouldn't reach the threshold for a public intrusive alert.
What This Means for the "Big One"
Whenever an earthquake happens nearby, the first thing everyone asks is: "Is this a precursor?"
Seismologists generally say no. While a larger quake can sometimes be preceded by foreshocks, most of the time, an M6.0 off the coast of Oregon is just its own isolated event. However, a provincial report released just last week by ClimateReadyBC painted a pretty grim picture of what a true M9.0 megathrust quake would look like.
The report suggests that older neighborhoods in Vancouver—think those beautiful but unreinforced brick buildings in Gastown—would face the most risk. They estimate roughly 18,000 buildings could be destroyed or severely damaged across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island if a major event hit closer to home.
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Staying Prepared Without Panicking
It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole of anxiety when the ground starts moving. Kinda scary, right? But the best way to handle it is through a bit of boring, practical prep.
Check your kit. Most people have a "grab-and-go" bag, but when was the last time you checked the expiry date on those granola bars? Or the batteries in your flashlight?
The "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" rule. It sounds like a cliché from elementary school, but it’s still the gold standard. Doorways aren't actually safer—getting under a sturdy piece of furniture is.
Secure your heavy stuff. If you have a massive bookshelf or a heavy mirror over your bed, take twenty minutes this weekend to anchor it to a stud. In most moderate quakes, the biggest danger isn't the building collapsing; it's the TV falling on your head.
The earthquake in vancouver today didn't cause damage here, and there is no tsunami threat to the B.C. coast from this specific Oregon event. We got lucky with a gentle reminder. It's the perfect time to make sure you're ready for the next one, just in case it's a little closer to home.
Practical Next Steps
- Download the Weather Network or a dedicated seismic app to get real-time updates on local tremors.
- Locate your gas shut-off valve and make sure you have the specific wrench needed to turn it off if you smell a leak.
- Establish a family meeting spot outside your home that is clear of falling debris like glass or power lines.