An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale rocked southern Quebec and Ontario today, as well as parts of the northeastern United States.
The quake, which lasted just 10 seconds, was felt from Niagara Falls to Quebec City, as well as in border towns in the northeastern US states of New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. There were no reports of injuries.
The tremor was centered near Plattsburgh, New York, 60 miles south of Montreal, Mr Claude de Grandpre, director of the geophysical observatory at Montreal's Jean-de-Brebeuf College, said.
Though no major damage was reported, windows and walls were shaken quite violently by the quake, authorities said.
The last major earthquake in the region occurred on November 25, 1988, when a temblor measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rattled the region of Saguenay, some 310 miles northeast of Montreal.
AFP