Does a small earthquake mean that a larger earthquake is coming?
No, except for very rare exceptions. Every year, hundreds of earthquakes occur in Canada. Only a very tiny minority of these precede a larger earthquake. Although a large earthquake may be preceded by a foreshock (the Saguenay earthquake of November 1988 is an example), the occurrence of a small earthquake is not in itself a typical sign. Hundreds of small earthquakes occur every year in Canada, whereas major earthquakes have occurred only a few times in this century. A small earthquake, however, provides an ideal opportunity to offer reminders about safety measures to take before, during and after an earthquake.
