Two quakes off Van. Island

UPDATE: 5:40 p.m.

Two earthquakes have struck off the northwest coast of Vancouver Island.

Natural Resources Canada says a magnitude 4.6 quake struck Monday afternoon about 166 kilometres west of Port Alice, B.C.

Less than one hour later, a second larger quake of magnitude 5.3 hit 189 kilometres west of Port Alice.

There are no reports of damage and no tsunami was produced.

Natural Resources Canada says the first quake was not felt and there are no felt reports from the second at this time.

Earthquakes are common in the region and about a dozen large earthquakes of magnitude 6.6 to 7.0 have occurred nearby over the past century.

Three quakes measuring 6.5, 6.6 and 6.8 were felt and recorded in the region last Oct. 22 followed by at least four aftershocks.

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ORIGINAL 2:50 p.m.

An earthquake was registered west of Vancouver Island Monday afternoon.

The quake, a magnitude 4.6, hit shortly before 1:30 about 100 kilometres west of the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

It struck at a depth of 10 kilometres.

However, the quake is not expected to do any damage.

"There are no reports of damage, and none would be expected. Not felt. No tsunami expected," said officials with Natural Resources Canada.

                                                                                                                             --with files from Canadian Press