Residents in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan, were surprised by minor tremors during a recent earthquake that struck the town on Friday night. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.3, occurred around 7:35 p.m. CST and originated approximately half a kilometer beneath the surface.
Although Earthquakes Canada has not officially determined the cause of the earthquake, it is suspected to be induced by mining activities in the region. Esterhazy, located about 180 kilometers northeast of Regina, houses a large mining complex known as “the world’s largest potash operation” operated by Mosaic.
Kringle Sarmiendo, who was with her one-year-old daughter in her living room when the earthquake hit, described feeling as if someone was stomping on the roof of her apartment. She immediately took her child outside as the shaking intensified, likening the sensation to someone jumping on the roof.
Despite earthquakes being common in Sarmiendo’s home country of the Philippines, she never expected to experience one while residing in Saskatchewan. Esterhazy has a history of experiencing small earthquakes, with a 3.8-magnitude quake occurring in 2016 and a total of 19 earthquakes close to that magnitude recorded in the area since 1981.
Mosaic confirmed that mine workers were underground at the time of the earthquake, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Marnel Jones, the director of government and public affairs at Mosaic, highlighted the connection between mining activities and seismic events in the region, particularly due to salt removal and injection activities.
Although mining activities may contribute to seismic events, Jones emphasized that the geological attributes of the area also make it prone to earthquake activity. She explained that the Prairie evaporate formation in the province contributes to the frequent seismic activity in the region, which is why Mosaic operates there.
Despite previous earthquakes causing minor disruptions such as power outages, Jones assured that no unusual incidents occurred during this recent event. Residents like Prabhnoor Sanbhu, who works at the Esterhazy Sunset Inn, described the earthquake as brief but intense, with some guests unaware of the tremors due to its short duration.