Rare earthquake shakes Ottawa, Montreal

(AFP)
posted June 23, 20190

OTTAWA — A strong earthquake shook Ottawa and Montreal in eastern Canada on Wednesday, forcing office workers out onto downtown streets in the nation's capital.

The US Geological Survey reported the temblor of a magnitude of 5.5 hit the Ontario-Quebec border area at 1741 GMT, rattling downtown Ottawa shortly after midday.

The USGS said the epicenter was 61 kilometers (38 miles) north of Ottawa.

AFP journalists witnessed walls in downtown office buildings shook for several seconds. Cracks appeared in the Parliamentary Press Gallery building in Ottawa, and outside. Some people appeared shaken up, but unhurt. the rest

Canada earthquake rattles buildings in northern N.J., New York state

USGS: 5.5-magnitude earthquake near Ottawa, Canada

(I felt it here in Syracuse-the house shuddered, but initially I thought it was a wind gust.-PD)