Rare 3.4 Magnitude Quake Rattles Northwest England

By Robert Birsel

Reporter

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A rare earthquake of 3.4 magnitude shook northwest England late Wednesday, rattling homes and jolting many people out of their sleep.

What To Know

The 3.4 magnitude quake struck about 1.86 miles east of the village of Warton at a depth of 6 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, while the British Geological Survey (BGS) put the quake’s depth at 1.86 miles and called it a magnitude 3.3.

“The event was felt across the South Lakes and Lancashire, mainly within 20 km (12.4 miles) of the epicentre, including Lancashire, Kendal and Ulverston. Reports describe: ‘felt like an explosion and vibration coming from underground’ and ‘so powerful to shake the whole house,’” BGS said. There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.

The United Kingdom is far from major fault lines and significant seismic activity is rare. From 200 to 300 earthquakes are detected in the U.K. annually, according to BGS. However, only up to 30 are actually felt by people, while the rest are extremely minor and only recorded by sensitive instruments.

“Most of these are very small and cause no damage. However, some British earthquakes have caused considerable damage, although nothing like the devastation caused by large earthquakes in other parts of the world,” according to BGS. A 4 magnitude earthquake strikes Britain on average every two years, it added.

“We experience a magnitude 5 roughly every 10-20 years. Research suggests that the largest possible earthquake in the UK is around magnitude 6.5."

A 4.6 magnitude quake struck in southern Wales in 2018 and the previous year, a 4 magnitude struck in Scotland. A 4.2 shook the southeastern county of Kent in 2015.

The most powerful UK earthquake in recent years struck in 2008, when a 5.2 magnitude struck near the village of Market Rasen in northeast England.

Sky News on Wednesday reported comments from some startled social media users, with one resident saying it "sounded like bricks falling/the roof falling in."

"Felt like an explosion and vibration coming from underground," another posted.

What People Are Saying

Professor Adam Taylor, of Lancaster, on X: “Definitely felt this earthquake in north Lancaster. We live near the West Coast Main Line and initially thought the rumbling was a train but then felt the shaking.”

An X user identified as Danny: "I’m in South Cumbria & my house shook!"