Earthquake.now

M5.2 Earthquake near Port McNeill, Canada — 25 February 2025

A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.2 was recorded near Port McNeill, Canada on , with an epicentre 211 km west of Port McNeill, at a focal depth of 1.0 km. It ranked as the 2nd strongest of 25 earthquakes recorded in Canada in the preceding 30 days.

5.2 Moderate

Time (UTC): 2025-02-25 05:37:28

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 5.2 (moderate)

Focal depth: 1.0 km (shallow)

Epicentre: 50.4330, -130.0610

Location: 211 km W of Port McNeill, Canada

Country: Canada

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Reviewed

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area.

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 416, which is below the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 20:57 local solar time at the epicentre, in the evening.

This event was deeper than 61% of the 464 earthquakes recorded in Canada in our catalogue and stronger than 99% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 50.4330, -130.0610 — 211 km west of Port McNeill. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake 3 km north-northwest of here on 25 February 2025.

The nearest other settlement in our records is Tofino (201 km south-southeast).

Why the 1 km depth matters

At 1 km this was a shallow earthquake. Shallow events release their energy close to the surface, so for a given magnitude they produce noticeably stronger shaking — and more damage — than deeper ones. Roughly three quarters of all earthquakes worldwide occur at shallow depths.

This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its shallow focus makes stronger surface shaking more likely than for a deeper event of the same magnitude.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

What does the tsunami information flag mean?

The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.

How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →

Aftershocks and local seismic history

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.

12 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.6 event near Port McNeill on 20 July 2026. This M5.2 event released about 4.0 times less energy than that event.

4 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 2 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the February 2025 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in Canada during February 2025. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in Canada

All recorded earthquakes in Canada →

Other magnitude 5 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 5 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Port McNeill?

It measured magnitude 5.2 — a moderate earthquake. A magnitude 5.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Port McNeill?

The focus was 1 km below the surface, which counts as shallow.

Was the Port McNeill earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 5.2 and a focal depth of 1 km, shaking would have been concentrated near the epicentre.

When did the earthquake near Port McNeill happen?

25 February 2025 at 05:37 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.

How often do earthquakes happen near Port McNeill?

12 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.6 event near Port McNeill on 20 July 2026. This M5.2 event released about 4.0 times less energy than that event.