On the morning of October 22, 2025, a magnitude 2.5 Mw earthquake struck Quebec’s Charlevoix region, drawing immediate attention from locals and officials at Earthquakes Canada. The tremor landed in one of the province’s most seismically restless zones, and this roundup tracks what happened, how it fits the regional pattern, and what the data tells us about seismic risk in the area.

4 related posts

Date: October 22, 2025 · Quebec Magnitude: 2.5 Mw · Quebec Epicenter: 47.02 N, 27.8 km depth · Japan Magnitude: 5.1 · Global Largest: 5.9 Costa Rica

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact count of “felt” reports submitted to Earthquakes Canada
  • Whether a detailed Mercalli intensity map will be published for this event
  • Long-term aftershock patterns for this specific fault
3Timeline signal
  • 09:15 EDT – Earthquakes Canada confirms initial reading
  • Afternoon – Le Charlevoisien publishes local account
  • Evening – CIMT-CHAU broadcasts regional confirmation
4What’s next
  • Earthquakes Canada to monitor for possible aftershocks
  • Regional sensors continue tracking Charlevoix activity
  • Public can report felt shaking via official portal
Parameter Value
Primary Location Quebec, Canada
Magnitude 2.5 Mw
Time 07:35:49 EDT
Depth 27.8 km
Secondary Event Hokkaido M5.1
Epicenter Latitude 47.02 N
Epicenter Longitude 70.91 W
Nearest Town Beaupré, QC (3 km SSW)

Was there an earthquake today?

Yes. A magnitude 2.5 Mw earthquake struck Quebec’s Charlevoix region on the morning of October 22, 2025, according to Earthquakes Canada (the federal agency’s official seismic monitoring division). The tremor registered at 07:35:49 EDT and was recorded by seismic sensors across the province.

Quebec event details

The epicenter was pinpointed at latitude 47.02 N, longitude 70.91 W—roughly 3 km south-southwest of Beaupré, Quebec, and approximately 30 km from Québec City. Ground movement was detected by instruments in Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies, Chaudière-Appalaches, according to Le Charlevoisien (a regional news outlet serving the Charlevoix coast). The quake originated at a depth of 27.8 km.

Residents in La Malbaie and Baie-Saint-Paul reported feeling the ground shake around 7:30 AM local time. CIMT-CHAU (a local television station in Chaudière-Appalaches) broadcast confirmation of the event later that morning. No damage was reported across any source, and none would be expected from a quake of this magnitude.

Japan Hokkaido shake

Separately, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan, on October 22. That event generated no tsunami warning, according to international seismic monitoring networks. While larger than the Quebec tremor, it occurred in a region accustomed to frequent seismic activity.

Global overview

On the same date, the strongest earthquake globally was a magnitude 5.9 event in the Pacific Ocean near Costa Rica. Multiple M5+ tremors were recorded worldwide on October 22, consistent with the roughly 12,000–14,000 earthquakes magnitude 2.0 or greater that occur globally each year.

Bottom line: The Charlevoix quake was small by global standards but notable locally as the latest event in Quebec’s most seismically active zone. Officials confirmed no damage within hours of the event.

Where was the strongest earthquake today?

The strongest earthquake on October 22, 2025, was a magnitude 5.9 event in the Pacific Ocean near Costa Rica. This Pacific Rim location sits along a subduction zone where the Cocos Plate pushes beneath the Caribbean Plate—a tectonically energetic boundary that regularly produces larger quakes.

Top 10 global events

Global seismic tracking networks catalogued numerous events on October 22. Beyond the Costa Rica M5.9, the Hokkaido M5.1 and a cluster of M4–M5 tremors in the Pacific Rim rounded out the day’s most significant activity. The Quebec M2.5 ranked far lower in magnitude but drew local attention because it was felt by residents.

Costa Rica 5.9

The Costa Rica event occurred offshore in the Pacific, away from major population centers, which reduced the risk of damage even though its magnitude was substantially higher than the Quebec quake. Tsunami monitoring agencies assessed the event and issued no warnings.

Quebec and regional impacts

Quebec’s M2.5 produced no structural effects—the province’s building stock is designed to withstand much larger events—but the tremor was felt across multiple Charlevoix communities. The contrast between a widely felt M2.5 in a populated region and a felt M5.9 in a remote offshore setting illustrates how magnitude alone does not determine public impact.

The trade-off

A quake’s impact depends on depth, population density, and local geology—not just magnitude. The Quebec M2.5 was felt across multiple towns despite its small size, while the Costa Rica M5.9 posed less direct risk because it struck offshore.

What was the last major earthquake in Quebec?

The last event comparable to October 22, 2025 in Charlevoix itself was a magnitude 2.5 quake on July 25, 2025—16 km east of La Malbaie, also felt by residents. The region’s most significant historical quake occurred on February 5, 1663, when a magnitude 7.3–7.9 Mw earthquake struck near what is now the Charlevoix Seismic Zone, according to geological records (compiled historical accounts from colonial-era chronicles and modern seismic modeling).

1988 event recap

The 1988 Saguenay earthquake (magnitude 5.9) remains the strongest instrumentally recorded quake in southeastern Canada in modern times, though it occurred outside the Charlevoix zone. The 1988 event was felt across a wide swath of Quebec and parts of Ontario, demonstrating the region’s seismic exposure beyond Charlevoix.

2025 comparison

The October 22 event fits a pattern of frequent, low-magnitude activity in the Charlevoix zone. Earthquakes Canada records show multiple tremors in the region throughout 2024 and 2025, including an M2.4 quake on October 13, 2025, and an M0.8 event near Baie-Saint-Paul on July 11, 2025. This frequency is consistent with the zone’s geological character.

Charlevoix history

The Charlevoix Seismic Zone is the most seismically active region in Quebec, a fact established by Natural Resources Canada (the department’s geological survey program). The zone’s activity traces to an ancient impact crater—remnants of a meteorite strike roughly 350 million years ago—that created fractured fault structures capable of releasing seismic energy periodically.

Bottom line: October 22 was the latest in a long line of Charlevoix tremors. The region’s history includes a Mw 7.3–7.9 quake in 1663, but current activity produces only minor events that rarely cause damage.

Where was the largest earthquake in 2025?

Global monitoring through 2025 shows several notable larger events outside Canada. Séismes Canada (the federal agency’s French-language reporting portal) maintains a catalog of significant events in Canadian territory, while international networks track global activity.

Kamchatka event

Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula recorded a significant earthquake in 2025, consistent with the region’s status as one of the world’s most seismically active areas. Kamchatka sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences regular M6+ events.

Bangladesh November

A moderate-to-large quake in Bangladesh in November 2025 drew regional attention. Bangladesh sits atop complex tectonic boundaries where the Indian Plate interacts with the Eurasian Plate, producing both moderate frequent activity and occasional large events.

Myanmar March

Myanmar experienced significant seismic activity in March 2025, consistent with the country’s position along the Sagaing Fault, a major strike-slip structure that accommodates the India-Eurasia plate motion.

Where did the earthquake strike in 2025?

The October 22 earthquake struck within the Charlevoix Seismic Zone, at coordinates 47.02 N latitude and 70.91 W longitude. The epicenter was 3 km from Beaupré, a small municipality whose nearest neighbors include ski resorts and the historic Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery.

Key locations map

The Charlevoix zone extends along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, from Québec City east toward the Gaspé Peninsula. The October 22 epicenter falls within this corridor, near the southern margin of the ancient impact structure that defines the zone.

Quebec Beauport

Some localized reports referenced the quake near Beauport, a suburb of Québec City, though the official epicenter places the event closer to Beaupré. Instrumental records from Earthquakes Canada consistently identify the Beaupré location as the precise source.

International hotspots

Canada’s seismic activity is modest compared to the Pacific Rim, but the Charlevoix zone stands out regionally. The zone produces more frequent low-magnitude events than any other area in Quebec, a pattern that has persisted throughout the historical and instrumental record.

Upsides

  • No damage or injuries from the October 22 event
  • Federal monitoring network detected and confirmed the quake within hours
  • Charlevoix zone is well-studied; geological context is clear
  • Low-magnitude events like this one pose minimal public risk

Downsides

  • Precise “felt reports” count remains unspecified in public data
  • Detailed Mercalli intensity map has not been published for this event
  • The 1663 Mw 7.3–7.9 precedent shows the zone CAN produce major events
  • Low-magnitude activity may desensitize residents to earthquake readiness

Historical seismic context for Charlevoix

The 1663 Charlevoix earthquake remains the defining seismic event in the region’s history. According to geological records (historical chronicles, colonial accounts, and modern seismic analysis), the event had an estimated magnitude of 7.3–7.9 Mw and caused landslides along the Saint Lawrence River. It was felt as far south as New England.

Modern instrumentation has recorded hundreds of smaller events in the Charlevoix zone since monitoring began. Earthquakes Canada data shows quakes ranging from M0.8 to M2.6 occurring several times per month in active periods. The October 22 M2.5 fits squarely within this pattern.

The implication: five magnitude levels separate the 1663 Mw 7.3–7.9 from the October 22 M2.5—a roughly 40,000-fold difference in energy release—but the zone’s capacity for much larger events remains a long-term consideration for regional preparedness.

Why this matters

For residents, the takeaway is not fear but preparedness: Charlevoix is seismically alive, and while a repeat of 1663 is not imminent, the zone is capable of much larger events.

There are no reports of damage, and none would be expected.

— Earthquakes Canada, official event report (October 22, 2025)

Un léger tremblement de terre a été perçu tôt mercredi matin dans plusieurs secteurs de Charlevoix.

— Le Charlevoisien, local news account (October 22, 2025)

For anyone monitoring seismic activity in eastern Canada, the October 22 event is a data point, not a turning point. Charlevoix will likely produce another minor tremor within days or weeks—the zone’s track record makes that pattern clear. What matters is that the federal monitoring network captured the event fully, shared confirmed data within hours, and found no cause for public alarm. The system worked as designed.

Related reading: Hydro Québec Info Panne · 2025 Canadian Federal Election

Additional sources

earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca, volcanodiscovery.com, earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca, earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca, seismescanada.rncan.gc.ca

While the M2.5 tremor rattled Charlevoix near Beaupré with no reported damage, reports on other global quakes detailed stronger events like Afghanistan’s M5.1 that same day.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

Are there more earthquakes today than before?

Globally, earthquake frequency is stable. Roughly 12,000–14,000 earthquakes magnitude 2.0 and above occur each year, a rate that has remained consistent for decades of instrumental monitoring. Detection has improved, meaning we identify more small events now than in earlier eras, but the underlying rate has not changed. Locally, Charlevoix experiences frequent low-magnitude events that reflect the zone’s geological character, not an increase in seismic hazard.

When will the Big One happen in California?

No reliable prediction exists for when a major earthquake will strike any specific location. The USGS estimates roughly a 60% probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater quake striking the San Francisco Bay Area before 2036, but that is a long-term forecast based on fault recurrence intervals, not a countdown. For Charlevoix, the Mw 7.3–7.9 event of 1663 reminds us that large earthquakes CAN occur east of the Rockies, though no timeline exists for a repeat.

Are there earthquakes in Ireland?

Ireland experiences infrequent seismic activity, mostly small events that cause no damage. Unlike Canada, Ireland sits away from major tectonic plate boundaries, so significant earthquakes are rare. When they do occur, magnitudes typically remain below 3.0.

What are the 5 worst earthquakes in the world?

Historical records identify several exceptionally destructive events: the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake (China, estimated 830,000 fatalities), the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami (magnitude 9.1), the 1976 Tangshan earthquake (China, magnitude 7.5), the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake (China, magnitude 7.8), and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (magnitude 7.9). The 1663 Charlevoix event ranks among the largest in North American history but caused far fewer casualties due to the region’s sparse population at the time.

What is the seismic history of Charlevoix?

Charlevoix has recorded seismic events dating back to the 1663 magnitude 7.3–7.9 earthquake. Since instrumental monitoring began, the zone has produced hundreds of events, predominantly magnitude 0.5–3.0 range, several times per month. Earthquakes Canada maintains a regional catalog at its website, showing activity through 2025.

How to check earthquake maps today?

Earthquakes Canada provides a real-time map at earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca, showing events within the past 24 hours, week, and year. The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program offers a global equivalent at earthquake.usgs.gov. Both platforms allow filtering by magnitude and date.

Was the 1989 Quebec earthquake significant?

Quebec experienced a magnitude 5.9 earthquake in 1988 in the Saguenay region (often referenced as the 1988 or 1989 event in some summaries), which was felt across a wide area including Montréal and Ottawa. The event remains the strongest recorded in southeastern Canada in the instrumental era and prompted updates to regional building codes and emergency preparedness protocols.