Magnitude 7.7 quake hits Canada

Washington : A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Queen Charlotte Islands off the western coast of Canada, the US Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.

The temblor triggered a tsunami that was heading toward Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

The tsunami wave was expected to reach Hawaii at 10.28 p.m. Saturday (0828 GMT Sunday), the Hawaii-based the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

The US National Weather Service has issued a similar warning for coastal areas of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, Xinhua reported Sunday.

The quake’s epicentre, with a depth of 17.5 km, was 202 km southwest of Prince Rupert in Canada’s British Columbia province.

According to government agency Natural Resources Canada, the quake hit 69 km west-southwest of Queen Charlotte City at 0304 GMT.

The quake was felt across much of north-central British Colombia, said the agency, which measured the quake at 7.1 magnitude.

Queen Charlotte Islands, now known as Haida Gwaii, consist of two main islands. The sparsely populated area is home to nearly 4,000 people.