There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The US National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, says there is no danger of a tsunami from the Wednesday night quake.
The quake hit at 8:10 p.m. local time and was centered about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Port Alice, British Columbia, and about 280 miles (450 kilometers) northwest of Seattle, Washington. It occurred at a depth of 14 miles (22 kilometers).
Within a half hour, nearly 200 people had logged on to the USGS earthquake information site to report having felt the quake.
Port Hardy resident Jennifer Nickerson says the quake caused lights to sway and the fish tank in the hotel where she works to rock. AP