Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. to install earthquake warning sensors

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Jan, 2023 04:21 PM
  • B.C. to install earthquake warning sensors

VICTORIA - Up to 50 earthquake early warning sensors are being installed around British Columbia as part of a larger plan to protect people and infrastructure in a big quake.

The sensors will be connected to the national Earthquake Early Warning system that's expected to be in operation by 2023.

A joint federal and provincial government announcement today says the sensors will give seconds, or perhaps tens of seconds, of warning before the strongest shaking arrives, helping to reduce injuries, deaths and property loss.

Bowinn Ma, B.C.'s minister of emergency management, says in a statement that an early warning system is critical to helping those in the province mitigate the impacts of a seismic event.

A joint federal and provincial government announcement today says the sensors will give seconds, or perhaps tens of seconds, of warning before the strongest shaking arrives, helping to reduce injuries, deaths and property loss.

When the full system is operational next year, more than 10 million Canadians living in the most earthquake-prone areas of the country will get the early warning alerts, giving them precious seconds to take cover.

There are over 5,000 earthquakes in Canada every year, most of them along B.C.'s coast, although about 20 per cent of the quakes are along the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River valleys.

On Jan. 26, 1700, a magnitude-9 megathrust earthquake hit North America's west coast, creating a tsunami that carried across the Pacific Ocean and slammed into Japan.

The statement says if a similar quake happens when the early warning system is operating, it could give up to four minutes' warning before the strongest shaking starts in coastal B.C. communities.

It says the system could also be used to automatically trigger trains to slow down, stop traffic from driving over bridges or into tunnels, divert air traffic, automatically close gas valves, and open firehall and ambulance bay doors.

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada offers four Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine

Canada offers four Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine
The four tanks that Canada is sending to Ukraine are being drawn from the Army’s current inventory of 82 Leopard 2s designed for battle, which former Army officers have said are already stretched thin.

Canada offers four Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine

No more home internet money for Tory, Liberal MPs

No more home internet money for Tory, Liberal MPs
A breakdown of recent expenses shows 31 Tory MPs have charged taxpayers for home internet services for either themselves or staff. The information was first reported by the National Post.     

No more home internet money for Tory, Liberal MPs

Liberals kick off their winter caucus retreat

Liberals kick off their winter caucus retreat
The federal party's caucus chair says their first priority is making life more affordable for Canadians, and MPs also want to build a green economy and address climate change. Brenda Shanahan says the retreat is critical because the 158 MPs haven't gotten together since before the holidays, and it's time for them to put forward fresh ideas.

Liberals kick off their winter caucus retreat

South Asian community health workers welcome new alcohol guide

South Asian community health workers welcome new alcohol guide
"Given the uniquely high risk of alcohol use issues and morbidity among South Asians, it is clear that a more focused and nuanced understanding of (alcohol use disorder) treatment in this (population) is necessary," says the review, which notes no North American studies focus specifically on South Asians in alcohol treatment settings.

South Asian community health workers welcome new alcohol guide

Nearly 500 B.C. staff hit by Canfor restructuring

Nearly 500 B.C. staff hit by Canfor restructuring
The Chetwynd closure is expected in April or May and the announcement came just two days after the mill reopened following a holiday curtailment, but a company statement says Canfor is "committed to supporting displaced employees," and where possible, it says they will top the list for hiring at other mills.

Nearly 500 B.C. staff hit by Canfor restructuring

COVID-19 misinformation cost Canadian lives: study

COVID-19 misinformation cost Canadian lives: study
The study suggests that the belief that COVID-19 was a "hoax or exaggerated" led to 2.35 million people delaying or refusing to get the vaccine between March and November of 2021. The study also didn't include estimated "indirect costs and the ripple costs," he says, such as delayed elective surgeries and treating long-COVID cases.

COVID-19 misinformation cost Canadian lives: study

PrevNext