'Felt my floor shake': Residents react to 2.5 magnitude earthquake in Yarmouth County

Residents in southwestern Nova Scotia were shocked Wednesday afternoon after anearthquake with a magnitude of 2.5rattled Yarmouth County, shaking some buildings.

"I heard what sounded like thunder," said Sara Allen, who was teaching a virtual class at NSCCYarmoutharound 1:45 p.m. AT.

"I felt my floor shake under my feet and I stopped ... [and]as I looked out the window, one of my students said, 'Did you feel that, too?'"

Earthquakes Canada confirmed that a quake hit 32 kilometres west of Yarmouth at 1:48p.m. Wednesday.

Allen said she heard two loud bangs, which she initially thought was caused bynearby construction.

However, somestudents who live outside of Yarmouthalso heard the strange sounds.

Previous earthquakes in area

This isn't the first time a minor earthquake has hit the region.

Anearthquake with a magnitude of 3.1shook parts of western Nova Scotia in September 2018. Before that, in 2016, anearthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 was felt in Yarmouth.

"I wouldn't say they're common.It has happened in the past," said Pam Mood, the mayor of Yarmouth.

"And of course, every time you wonder what it is [and]you get a little bit shocked every time it happens."

Mike Deveau, the acting fire chief in Yarmouth, said the department has received sporadic calls about the earthquake, but no serious incidents have been reported.