SUDBURY -- Residents in the Greater Sudbury community of Garson have literally felt the ground moving beneath them, thanks to some seismic activity over the past week.

Earthquakes Canada has registered three tremors over a five-day period. The first on Nov. 8 at 3:05 a.m., which registered at 2.1 in magnitude (MN); two days later they had a second event around midnight at 1.7 MN. The third was on Nov. 12 -- the largest one, at 2.6 magnitude -- at roughly 7:34 Thursday evening.

"We were sitting around the kitchen table doing some homework with the kids and oh boy, it was a very, very big shake, very sudden and a big shake and I know it startled us," laughed city councillor Mike Jakubo.

Jakubo's Facebook page, along with a local Garson/Falconbridge Facebook page, have been filling up with posts and comments from people who felt the ground shake. He's been told by mining officials that it was a seismic event.

"The people of Garson are very used to what we all know as the 5 o'clock blast, you know we expect a burst and a shake at that time everyday," said Jakubo. "These seismic events have been happening in the middle of the night."

"It's possible to feel a 2.6 under favourable conditions, especially nearby to the mine, if you're in a very competent geological setting like Sudbury where you have hard rock underneath your feet," said Earthquakes Canada seismologist Stephen Crane. "Those waves can travel quite some distance."

Mining related

Crane said it has been recorded as a mining-related event and seismic activity is nothing new for the area. In fact, the Sudbury region has seen roughly 335 mining-related tremors over the past five years, which is roughly 65 events a year.

"As you get down to magnitude 2s, it would have to be favourable conditions for you to feel it, but it's definitely possible," said Crane.

CTV News reached out to Vale Canada and received the following statement:

"At approximately 7:35 p.m. on Nov. 12, a 2.6 MN seismic event occurred at Vale’s Garson Mine. We can confirm that no one was underground in the area of the mine where this event occurred."

Vale also told CTV they had stopped working in the area due to what they're calling operational issues. They hope to resume work in the coming days.

The company is inviting anyone with comments or concerns to reach out to them on at 705-222-VALE.

Earthquakes Canada also is asking anyone who might witness a tremor to reach out to the government agency so it can be recorded.