OTTAWA, June 23 (Reuters) - A magnitude 5.0 quake struck north of the Canadian capital Ottawa on Wednesday, shaking a wide area of central Canada, the U.S. Geological Survey and witnesses reported.
There were reports of minor damage, and witnesses said the quake was felt in Montreal as well as in Toronto, where Canada’s largest city is preparing to host a meeting of world leaders later this week.
Staff in Reuters’ Ottawa bureau reported buildings shook heavily for 25 to 30 seconds, setting off fire alarms across the downtown core. Some buildings were evacuated, but eyewitnesses reported no signs of major damage.
Senator Art Eggleton told Reuters he was in the middle of a meeting when they felt the quake.
"We thought it was construction. All of a sudden the place started to shake. Someone yelled get out and we went," Eggleton said.
"Everything was moving. Some of my colleagues have experienced quakes here before and said this was the worst one."
According to the USGS, it was a shallow quake, only 11.9 miles (19.2 km) deep, and centered 38 miles (61 km) north of Ottawa, near the community of Cumberland, Ontario.
Earthquakes are occasionally reported in the region, but they are usually small and felt only in the immediate area.
