Mild earthquake near Moncton recorded Monday evening

A mild earthquake just outside of Moncton on Monday night was not a rare occurrence, according to a federal scientist.

Data from Earthquakes Canada shows that a 2.3-magnitude earthquake hit at 7:45 p.m. Monday, about 12 kilometres north of Moncton.

"We have recorded about 20 earthquakes of this size [in New Brunswick] this year, since January, so they are fairly common," said Stephen Crane, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada.

But it is uncommon for a quake of that size to be felt by so many people, Crane said, adding that the department received about 11 reports from the public describing what they experienced.

More than a dozen people in the Irishtown area posted on Facebook about the quake, with many describing it as feeling like a vehicle had hit their house.

The proximity of the event to Moncton is why more people felt it, he said. 

"Generally, it's just the house shaking, dishes rattling, things like that."

No damage has been reported, he said.

"We wouldn't expect an earthquake this small to cause any damage. Damage usually starts around magnitude 5, and that's quite a ways away from this earthquake."

Crane said his department uses readings to track the exact location and magnitude of earthquakes, but a questionnaire on their website for people to report what they felt, and where, also helps with tracking.

"We use these reports so that we know the size of the earthquake and how it's going to impact people, so when a future earthquake occurs, we can estimate the expected impact from that earthquake," Crane said.

New Brunswick has a low level of seismicity, which is how commonly earthquakes occur.

"But they can occur here. Back in 1982 there were two very large earthquakes shortly after another," he said.

A magnitude 5.7 was followed by a 5.1 aftershock that year.

But the Monday night earthquake is very unlikely to have aftershocks because its small size, he said.

Natural Resources Canada has earthquake-monitoring equipment across the country, which can detect something as small as a magnitude 1.0.

'The importance of monitoring earthquakes is to understand how often and where they can occur," Crane said.

That information is used for the national building code to make buildings safe, based on what level and frequency of earthquakes are expected in their location.

"And that's the the best way we can really protect the population, is to make sure that  building doesn't fall down on them," he said.

Crane urges people who might have felt Monday's quake to submit a short report on the Natural Resources Canada website. 

"It's always a good reminder to keep us prepared and know that a larger one could occur at any time."