BURLINGTON — Two minor earthquakes were recorded seven kilometres east of Burlington within less than three hours overnight Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Earthquakes Canada.

The first earthquake occurred at 10:42 p.m. EDT on October 13. Earthquakes Canada measured it at magnitude 1.4, placed it at a depth of five kilometres and classified it as a known earthquake. The agency’s event page had received 10 community intensity reports when reviewed Wednesday.

A second earthquake was recorded at 1:13 a.m. EDT on October 14. The federal monitoring agency measured that event at magnitude 1.5 and also listed it as felt.

No damage reported

Natural Resources Canada seismic analyst Chris Boucher told BurlingtonToday that the department had received no reports of damage from either earthquake. Residents described hearing a boom or feeling a brief shake, according to BurlingtonToday and CHCH.

CHCH reported that the epicentre was near Burlington’s waterfront. Earthquakes Canada lists both events as seven kilometres east of the city, while BurlingtonToday placed the second beneath Lake Ontario near Lakeshore Road and Burloak Drive.

Small events are not unprecedented

Boucher said Burlington and southwestern Ontario have experienced small earthquakes before, although the region is not generally associated with large earthquakes. He cautioned against interpreting the recent cluster as proof that earthquake activity is increasing, noting that improvements in detection can also affect what is recorded.

Earthquakes Canada recorded another felt Burlington-area earthquake on January 7. That event was measured at magnitude 1.3 and located four kilometres east-northeast of the city.

The agency asks people who felt either of the latest earthquakes to submit a community intensity report through its event pages.

Sources

Lead image: Burlington waterfront, photographed April 3, 2026, by Gogerr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. The image is geographic context, not a photograph of the earthquakes.