A seismic threat looms over Vancouver, where a possible mega‑earthquake could cause catastrophic destruction. The city remains shrouded in thick fog, complicating air travel and road traffic. In addition, the only bridge to Westham Island was damaged after a vessel collision, isolating local residents.
Major earthquake in Vancouver: is the city ready for disaster?
While public attention is often focused on floods, wildfires and extreme heat, there is another quiet but colossal threat to Vancouver and the entire Pacific Northwest — a devastating mega‑earthquake. According to a report by the Province of British Columbia published in 2025, the consequences of such an event could be catastrophic, surpassing the scale of any disasters the region has experienced in the past two centuries.
The report, cited by Daily Hive in its article, outlines a scenario of a magnitude‑9 earthquake on the Cascadia fault that could occur off the coast of Vancouver Island. This “high‑consequence” event would create severe risks to people’s safety, infrastructure and economic stability. The projected figures are alarming: up to 18,000 damaged buildings, 10,000 injured and 3,400 dead. Although the chance of such an earthquake in any given year is less than 1%, over the next 50 years it rises to 10–20%. The threat stems from the Cascadia subduction zone — a 1,000‑kilometre fault where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate slowly dives beneath the North American plate. Built‑up stress between the plates is periodically released in powerful underground shocks.
The economic blow from the “big” earthquake, as it is often called, would be crushing. The province forecasts direct economic losses of $128 billion. Of that, about $38 billion is direct damage to buildings from ground shaking. Such a catastrophe could overwhelm Canada’s property insurance industry, halve economic growth and cost 43,700 jobs over the following decade. Buildings constructed before 1990 — when seismic requirements were not sufficiently incorporated into building codes — are at greatest risk. But the danger is not limited to the shaking itself. An earthquake could trigger a cascade of secondary hazards: landslides, soil liquefaction, tsunamis, flooding and urban fires. Repeated aftershocks would compound the destruction and severely hamper rescue and recovery efforts, damaging critical infrastructure and disrupting transportation, water supply, power grids and communications.
Is Vancouver prepared for such a scenario? In 2024 the city conducted a seismic risk assessment for buildings using a model earthquake of magnitude 7.2 in the Strait of Georgia. The results showed that nearly 6,100 buildings in the city could suffer total or extensive damage, leading to direct financial losses of $17 billion. City officials note that 10% of buildings account for almost 80% of the total risk. These are older wood‑frame, brick and concrete residential buildings, as well as many commercial towers and low‑rise retail structures in neighbourhoods. The social context is particularly alarming: nearly 75% of tenants, 30% of low‑income residents and 10% of seniors live in the highest‑risk zones. These groups face extra barriers to emergency preparedness and home retrofits, making them more vulnerable. Additionally, these buildings house most of the existing rental stock and small businesses that serve neighbourhoods. Only a handful of these dangerous structures have been replaced or upgraded to withstand earthquakes that are now known to be possible in the region.
Preparing for an earthquake is a complex task involving multiple city departments. Since most at‑risk buildings are privately owned, Vancouver has introduced a bylaw requiring seismic upgrades during major renovations. The city can also incentivize redevelopment of old hazardous buildings. However, officials acknowledge that this work carries the risk of displacing residents and small businesses, and provincial and federal support will be needed to address it. In the event of an earthquake, the city continuously trains staff and volunteers for emergency response. In the first days efforts will focus on saving lives and meeting the most urgent needs. The city emphasizes that families, neighbours and community organizations will need to support one another independently for several days, and advance preparation will ease that burden. Residents are advised to assemble emergency kits, get to know their neighbours and follow information from trusted sources such as the City of Vancouver and EmergencyInfoBC. Thus, while awareness of the threat and initial risk assessments have been made, the path to real preparedness for a “big” earthquake remains long and requires coordinated action at all levels.
A fog blanket covers Vancouver: flights at risk, drivers urged to take care
Residents of Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island have awoken to a dense layer of fog for several days, which meteorologists forecast will persist through Tuesday. Visibility in some areas is approaching zero, prompting warnings for drivers and air travellers. As CBC News reports, the persistent phenomenon is caused by an expansive high‑pressure system parked over British Columbia.
Environment Canada meteorologist Derek Lee explains that the area of high pressure, established last week, acts like a lid, trapping moisture in the lower atmosphere. The main source of that moisture is the Strait of Georgia, over which dense fog and low cloud form. Coastal areas are especially affected: North and West Vancouver, downtown and Richmond. Inland communities such as Burnaby, Surrey and Langley are slightly better off — daytime sunshine often burns off the fog, but visibility is still sharply reduced in the mornings and evenings.
These weather conditions bring practical difficulties. Drivers are advised to use headlights and running lights, allow extra travel time and exercise extreme caution. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has activated low‑visibility procedures. These procedures come into effect when visibility drops below 400 metres (about four city blocks). In rare cases where visibility falls under 180 metres, takeoffs and landings may be temporarily suspended. Passengers are strongly urged to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Interestingly, while the lowlands are cloaked in cold fog, much warmer than usual conditions prevail at higher elevations. Meteorologist Lee explains this contrast: the fog and low cloud are concentrated at ground level like a blanket, while above that the sun freely warms the air. Thus the same weather pattern creates two different realities for residents of valleys and slopes.
Although the fog is expected to be temporary and should clear by midweek, it serves as a reminder of how large‑scale atmospheric processes, like a persistent high‑pressure system, can directly affect the daily lives of millions, slowing transport, disrupting air travel and creating a striking yet challenging landscape to navigate.
Westham Island bridge in Vancouver damaged after vessel incident
Residents of small Westham Island in Metro Vancouver have been put in a difficult situation: the only vehicle bridge connecting them to the mainland was emergency‑closed after being damaged in a collision with a marine vessel. The incident occurred Tuesday evening, and access to the island by vehicle is now completely cut off, forcing authorities to arrange temporary measures for local residents.
According to a statement from the City of Delta, the municipality that has jurisdiction over the bridge, the incident caused serious damage to structures under the bridge, making it unsafe for vehicle traffic. As reported by The Canadian Press on timescolonist.com, the bridge remains open to pedestrians, and a shuttle bus service has been set up to provide mobility for residents on the other side. Authorities emphasize that despite transport disruptions, emergency services remain accessible — island residents should still call 911 in case of urgent need.
Delta municipal councillor Dylan Krueger shared a photo on social media showing severe damage: wooden structures under the bridge are shattered. This visually demonstrates the scale of the incident. The bridge owner, TransLink, has begun damage assessments and planning repairs. The historical context makes the situation especially sensitive: the Westham Island wooden single‑lane truss bridge opened in 1909. A truss bridge is a type of bridge whose load‑bearing structure consists of individual members connected into triangular sections, providing strength with relatively low weight. Despite a major reconstruction in 2019, the structure remains vulnerable, particularly given its location in a navigable waterway.
The bridge closure has serious practical consequences for roughly 300 Westham Island residents, known for its agriculture and nature reserve. The island is not only residential but also a popular spot for birdwatching and agritourism, so transport disruptions may affect local businesses and access to essential services. Authorities must now not only repair the bridge quickly but also ensure reliable temporary shuttle service and resolve logistics for delivering goods and sustaining island life. The incident raises renewed questions about the resilience of critical infrastructure, especially aging bridges in coastal regions where the risk of such collisions always exists.
