7.7-plus magnitude quake hits Canada's British Columbia

A powerful earthquake with a 7.7 magnitude hit Canada's Pacific coast province of British Columbia late Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported But there were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake was centered 123 miles (198 km) south-southwest of Prince Rupert at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), the USGS said.

Earthquakes Canada said it detected a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in the Haida Gwaii region, placing it 43 miles (69 km) west-southwest of Queen Charlotte City.

"It was felt across much of north-central B.C., including Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, and Houston. There have been no reports of damage at this time," the agency said in a statement on its website.

The quake was not felt in the larger cities of Victoria and Vancouver in the south, a resident in each city told Reuters.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no destructive tsunami was expected from the quake but the West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for coastal sections of British Columbia and Alaska.

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