A 3.3-magnitude earthquake rattled parts of northwest England late on Wednesday night, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). The tremor struck off the coast of Silverdale, near Carnforth, Lancashire, at 11.23pm on December 3.
Residents across Lancashire and the southern Lake District reported feeling the quake, including in Carnforth, Morecambe, Heysham, Burton-in-Kendal, Arnside, Kendal, and Ulverston. Some as far south as Blackpool and Cleveleys also felt the event. Lancashire Police confirmed no injuries or damage were reported, describing a 'loud explosion' heard in the Carnforth area.
The BGS classifies a 3.0-3.9 magnitude tremor as 'weak' on the Richter scale. This is the second earthquake recorded in the UK this month, following a 1.0-magnitude quake in Newport, South Wales, on December 1. The BGS detects between 200 and 300 earthquakes in the UK annually, with a 4.0-magnitude event occurring roughly every two years.
Earthquakes in the UK are caused by the release of pressure along geological faults, driven by tectonic forces from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the collision of African and Eurasian plates. Most UK quakes occur on the western side, with the North Sea being particularly active.
