(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — Off Canada's west coast, there was an earthquake of magnitude 7.7, although no significant damage was reported. British Columbia residents were evacuated from some areas, but the province seemed to mostly avoid damage from the largest earthquake to hit Canada since 1949.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the strong earthquake struck the Queen Charlotte Islands shortly after 8 o'clock. It was located 96 miles (155 kilometers) south of Masset, British Columbia, and was at a depth of around 3 miles (5 kilometers) as of local time on Saturday. Both on the mainland of British Columbia and on its Pacific islands, it was felt over a sizable portion of the country. Shirley Bond, British Columbia's minister, stated that "it appears that the damage and risk are at a very modest level."

Just before 4 a.m. on Sunday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted its tsunami warning for Hawaii. less than six hours after the waves initially impacted the islands local time, three hours after the alert was downgraded.

A tsunami warning had been canceled by the National Weather Service for Canada, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California.

Wave heights in Hawaii were reportedly decreasing, according to Tsunami Warning Center authorities, but swimmers and boaters should watch out for strong or unexpected currents. Maui looked to be impacted by the largest waves, which were around 5 feet (1.5 meters) high.

There were no reports of damage at the time, but one person died in a deadly accident close to a road that had been closed due to the threat at the north shore of Oahu.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii noted that by avoiding more severe surges, the state was fortunate.

Abercrombie added, "We're very, very thankful that we can go home tonight and count our blessings.

A 69-centimeter (27-inch) wave, according to Dennis Sinnott of the Canadian Institute of Ocean Science, was observed off Langara Island at the northeasternmost point of Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. Around 5,000 people live on the islands, many of them belonging to the Haida indigenous people. On Vancouver Island's northeastern coast, Winter Harbour was pounded by a second 55 cm (21 inch) wave.

According to the Canadian government's Natural Resources website, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of British Columbia occurred on August 22, 1949, making it the biggest earthquake to strike Canada since 1700. The event took place on the Queen Charlotte Fault, which the department described as Canada's version of the San Andreas Fault. This undersea plate boundary extends along Haida Gwaii's west coast.

South of Haida Gwaii, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in 1970.

According to the USGS, the temblor jolted the waters near British Columbia and was followed by an aftershock of 5.8 magnitude after a period of time. There were numerous more aftershocks noted.

On the Haida Gwaii archipelago, 25 miles (40 km) south of Sandspit, British Columbia, the earthquake occurred. persons in

There was no prior notice, according to Urs Thomas, owner of the Golden Spruce hotel in Port Clements, before everything started moving both inside and outside the property. It reportedly lasted for three minutes. The jolt was "quite good," remarked Thomas, 59. I turned to gaze at my yacht outside. Rocking was present. The world was in motion. Moving was my truck.

After the first shock, Thomas started looking around the hotel.

He remarked, "The fixtures and everything were still swinging." "Some picture frames I had were coming down."

The tsunami warning in Hawaii prompted locals to stock up on necessities at gas stations and grocery stores and moved visitors staying in beachfront hotels to higher levels of their buildings. An hour before the first waves, bus service into Waikiki was suspended, and police in downtown Honolulu halted a Halloween block party. Three schools that were used as shelters for evacuees on Kauai quickly reached capacity.

According to Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the initial wave or surge in Alaska was measured at 4 inches (10 cm), which was significantly less than expected. About two hours after the earthquake, Craig was hit by the first wave. Later, increases in other Alaskan villages were noted at 6 inches (15 centimeters), while in others were much smaller.