An earthquake with a local magnitude (ML) of 2.5 on the Richter scale shook the Scottish Highlands in the early hours of Tuesday, waking residents and causing a sound like a small explosion.
Quake Details
The British Geological Survey (BGS) recorded the event at 3:09am, with its epicentre near Spean Bridge close to Ben Nevis at a depth of 5km (3.1 miles). The quake was felt in nearby Roybridge, Inverlair, Fort William and surrounding villages.
Residents reported a range of sensations. One person said a “deep rumble of about five seconds woke my husband and I”. Another described being “woken from sleep to rattling in room from crystals rolling in a tray”. A third said it “felt like a small explosion underground”. One resident in Fort William on the fourth floor of a concrete building reported being woken by a “deep, loud rumble”.
Seismologist Comments
Davie Galloway, BGS earthquake seismologist, said the quake was felt approximately 12.5 miles (20km) from the epicentre. He noted: “This is the largest event in the region, within 20 km, since the magnitude 2.7 ML Fort William earthquake on April 22 2023, which was felt with intensities of at least four EMS (European Macroseismic Scale) in Spean Bridge and the surrounding area.”
Galloway added: “Historically, the largest event to have occurred nearby was the magnitude 4.5 ML West Scotland earthquake that occurred on April 23 1817, which was reported to have been felt over a large part of Scotland.”
