A minor earthquake shook the ground across Essex County on Sunday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The 2.9-magnitude quake struck near Amherstburg, Ontario, at 10:32 a.m. on April 26, 2026, at a depth of 2.1 kilometers below the surface.
Residents took to social media to report feeling the tremors. One person from Oxley wrote, “My house shook as if a very large truck drove in front of the house.” Another in Amherstburg said, “We felt and heard it in Amherstburg. Our house shook and the loud rumbling sounded like thunder.”
Details from Geological Agencies
The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake’s epicenter at Latitude 42.02 North and Longitude 83.01 West. Earthquakes Canada, however, estimated the depth at closer to five kilometers and placed the epicenter 11 kilometers southeast of Amherstburg and 31 kilometers south of Windsor.
Earthquakes Canada noted that the quake was “lightly felt” in Amherstburg and that there were no reports of damage, nor are any expected.
Historical Context
Essex County has experienced multiple earthquakes over the decades. According to Earthquakes Canada, at least 11 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or higher have occurred in the region since 1884. The largest recorded earthquake in the area was a 5.3-magnitude event on March 2, 1937.
In 2023, two earthquakes struck the region: a 4.3-magnitude and a 4.4-magnitude quake, both on August 28. The 1884 quake, a 5.0-magnitude event, occurred on September 19.
Public Participation in Research
Researchers encourage anyone who felt the earthquake to report their experience. Both the U.S. Geological Survey and Earthquakes Canada have online surveys on their websites to collect data from the public.
