6.1 earthquake off of Vancouver Island Canada

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6.1 quake strikes off western Canadian coast

(CNN) -- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck at sea just west of Vancouver Island, Canada, on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The temblor's epicenter was about 95 miles (153 kilometers) west-southwest of Port Hardy, British Columbia, and about 293 miles (472 kilometers) west-northwest of Vancouver, British Columbia.

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake is classified as "strong," the USGS Web site says, capable of causing considerable damage.

Thursday's quake was the latest of about two dozen temblors of magnitude 4 or above to strike in the area in the past 48 hours, according to the USGS. A 5.2-magnitude quake was the largest of those, striking the same area Wednesday.

"We're having a series in that area," Julie Martinez, a USGS geophysicist said. She said the number of earthquakes was not unusual.

Seismologists told The Associated Press the quakes pose no tsunami threat and are unlikely to be felt on land.

Vancouver Island sits off Canada's west coast. Its main city of Victoria sits at its southern end. E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share