FORT ST. JOHN, BC -- A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was felt across the Peace Region last night.

The quake occurred at 5:55pm, and the epicentre was southeast of Peace River. According to Earthquakes Canada, it was felt most strongly close to Reno, Alberta. It was also lightly felt in northeast BC, including Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. Several aftershocks were felt in these areas as well.

Earthquakes Canada has received no reports of damage from the quake.

A series of lighter quakes were also reported near Peace River, including a 5.2 magnitude quake at 4:45pm; a 5.0 magnitude quake at 7:55pm; a 4.0 magnitude quake at 11:16pm; a 4.0 magnitude quake at 11:33pm; and a 4.0 magnitude quake on Wednesday morning at 5:46am.

These other quakes were only lightly felt in the area around the epicentre, and no damage has been reported.

According to the agency, the 5.8-magnitude quake is one of the largest recorded in Alberta. It is potentially the largest earthquake the province has experienced; according to the Alberta Geological Survey, the largest documented earthquake in Alberta occurred about 100 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie in April 2001 and registered at a 5.4 local magnitude.

Rebecca Salvage of the University of Calgary says quake originated at least six kilometres underground. That's probably too deep to have been artificially caused, she said.

"The depth infers that it's probably natural. Natural events typically occur at those depths."

Energy extraction processes, such as fracking, have contributed to earthquakes in other parts of the province. But Salvage said those kinds of quakes typically happen in the earth's upper layers.

With files from CTV News Edmonton.