Overview
- A magnitude 3.4 seismic event struck about nine kilometres east-northeast of Esterhazy at 7:04 a.m. on Tuesday and was recorded at roughly one kilometre depth.
- Earthquakes Canada classified the shock as a suspected mining-induced event, meaning it was likely triggered by human activity in an excavated underground cavity.
- Mosaic Canada confirmed the tremor originated in an older, mined-out part of the K3 workings, said about 1,200 employees were accounted for, and reported no remaining safety concerns.
- At the time of reporting 22 people had submitted felt reports describing shaking and booming sounds and those reports are under review by federal seismologists.
- Shallow, mining-related tremors are common around Esterhazy because large underground cavities change stress in the rock, so officials stress engineering safeguards, ongoing monitoring, and expert review to manage future events.