Earthquake?!!

Yesterday Ottawa experienced an earthquake tremor which originated about 60 kilometers (or 37 miles) north of the city. Our area has earthquakes from time to time - not always during the day. (I have slept through a few...) One time my daughter, asleep upstairs, woke up to the movement of her bed slowly inching across the room!

But this one happened midday. We were just leaving a four-story building, crossing the reception area, when a loud noise - like a rushing subway train - could be heard and felt below our feet.My first thoughts were: Is there a subway here? No, of course not! Is this an earthquake ... or construction?

We walked outside as people around us began to ask each other: What's happening?

When we stepped outdoors, someone who had been standing near the building smoking came up and asked: Did you hear that?! I could see the walls moving and the windows shaking!

Soon the whole building was evacuated. Many pulled out cell phones. Some couldn't get through - the lines were all jammed with callers.

One woman who had looked up to see her office bookcase leaning towards her had run down four flights of stairs as the building shook.

Should they go back in? Had there been structural damage to the building? Would there be aftershocks? When we drove away, everyone was still standing outside, wondering what to do.

On our way home, we stopped in to see a friend, who answered the door, still visibly shaken. Everyone on her street had rushed outside as houses shook, she told us.

My son who works downtown in a 29-story building that is being renovated thought a machine had erred and knocked down a wall...Would the whole building collapse?!

So far there has been little damage and, thankfully, no news of injuries - but I'm sure the earthquake stories will continue to spread for days as people continue to ask each other: Where were you when the earthquake occurred?

For once, Canadians will have something other than weather to talk about!