Residents of Esterhazy, Sask., were alarmed by a minor tremor that shook the town on Friday night. The quake, measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale, struck at approximately 7:35 p.m. CST, centered about half a kilometer beneath the surface. While the exact cause of the quake has not been confirmed by Earthquakes Canada, it is believed to be linked to mining activities in the area. Esterhazy, situated around 180 kilometers northeast of Regina, is home to a major mining complex operated by Mosaic, known as “the world’s largest potash operation.”
Kringle Sarmiendo, who was at home with her one-year-old daughter, described feeling the roof of her apartment shaking as if someone were stomping above. Sarmiendo immediately took her child outside, experiencing dizziness and recognizing the shaking as an earthquake. Despite being a common occurrence in her native country, the Philippines, Sarmiendo never expected to encounter an earthquake while living in Saskatchewan.
Esterhazy has a history of small earthquakes, with a 3.8-magnitude quake recorded in 2016 and a total of 19 similar quakes in the area since 1981. Mosaic confirmed that mine workers were underground during the recent quake, but fortunately, there were no injuries reported. Marnel Jones, the director of government and public affairs at Mosaic, explained that seismic activity in the region is often associated with mining operations, particularly salt removal and injection activities.
Although mining activities may contribute to seismic events, Jones emphasized that the geological characteristics of the area also make it prone to earthquakes. Jones highlighted the presence of the Prairie evaporate formation in the region, attributing the common occurrence of seismic activity to the geological composition. Despite previous earthquakes causing minor disruptions like power outages, the recent quake did not result in any significant issues.
Prabhnoor Sanbhu, an employee at the Esterhazy Sunset Inn, described the quake as brief but frightening. Some hotel guests were unaware of the tremor due to its short duration, lasting only a few seconds. Sanbhu recounted items on tables shaking, frames on walls vibrating, and the floor rumbling during the quake.