By Michael Bennett
Local Journalism Initiative
The Ridgetown Independent
No, that wasn’t an aftershock from Connor McDavid’s goal that rocked Canada a night earlier.
What you felt on Feb. 21 was an actual earthquake.
Well, not the kind that will bring national news teams to town to document massive damage and mayhem—but one that left locals asking each other, “Did you just feel that?”
Earthquakes Canada reported a 2.7 magnitude tremor was registered in the Ridgetown and East Kent area at 5:40 p.m. on Feb. 21.
The epicentre is believed to be between Ridgetown and Thamesville, according to the National Earthquake Centre’s report.
Social media platforms lit up almost immediately, with people reporting they felt the ground shake all across Ridgetown, as well as residents in Thamesville, Highgate, Morpeth, Shrewsbury, and the outskirts of Chatham and Blenheim.
Comments included people thinking their house had been struck by a vehicle and large icicles or ice falling off roofs and crashing to the ground.
Many claimed to have heard a loud bang, thinking there had been an explosion or perhaps an ice quake. Ridgetown Fire Station 11 responded to a 911 call at an apartment building in Ridgetown that reported an explosion. Station 10 Highgate was called in to assist.
Chatham-Kent Police said several 911 calls were received regarding what was believed to be an explosion in the Ridgetown area, with numerous structures experiencing tremors.
All Chatham-Kent Emergency Services attended the area to investigate, but no explosions were located.
The Earthquakes Canada site stated, “There were no reports of damage, and none was expected.”
