Despite being 500 miles away from the epicenter of the earthquake that recently hit Virginia, Toronto felt the 5.8 magnitude temblor, according to reports.
The quake reportedly hit Mineral, Virginia, around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, and a number of major cities reported feeling the after effects shortly thereafter.
"It was a shallow earthquake, literally almost right at the surface," said CityNews meteorologist Adam Stiles. "That means the energy is a little more focused. Instead of travelling up and out, the path of the quake just radiates outwards."
A resident of Niagara Falls told the news source the tremors from the quake lasted roughly two minutes. Many buildings across the city and in others along the East Coast of the U.S. were evacuated following the earthquake, including the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in Toronto, a local law enforcement official wrote on Twitter.
Though the incident was a rarity for this region of North America, Toronto residents may want to prepare for the possibility of another occurring soon. Using a public storage unit to preserve high-priced valuables may be a good option for many residents.
