Terrified residents across Lancashire and southern Cumbria were left shaken and stirred after a significant earthquake struck the region late on Wednesday night. The tremor, measuring 3.3 in magnitude, caused houses to shudder and sparked fears of a nuclear incident at the nearby Heysham power station.
Night-Time Tremor Sparks Alarm
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed the quake occurred at 11.23pm on Wednesday 3 December 2025, at a depth of 1.86 miles. Its epicentre was located just off the coast of the picturesque village of Silverdale in Lancashire. The tremors were felt across a wide area, including the towns of Kendal and Ulverston within a 12-mile radius.
For many residents, the sudden, loud rumble was a terrifying and unfamiliar experience. Carrie-Ann Craxford, a Silverdale local, described being on the verge of sleep when the event struck. "There was just this sudden big rumble, big crash bang," she said. "It literally only lasted five seconds but our house did shake, I was quite alarmed." Initial thoughts turned to domestic explosions, with many checking boilers and radiators before the true cause became apparent.
Fears of a 'Chernobyl-Style' Catastrophe
In the moments of confusion following the quake, some residents' minds jumped to the nearby Heysham nuclear power plant. Messages on local neighbourhood watch groups asked if the plant had "gone up in flames" or if it was "another Chernobyl." This highlights the immediate anxiety caused by the unexplained seismic event in an area not known for such activity.
Colin Frith, who was staying in Arnside, thought a lorry had crashed into his property or that intruders were breaking in. "I was scared, I jumped up, started shouting... 'Get away from the house!'", he recounted. Similarly, retired coal-miner Dean Howson from Silverdale likened the sensation to a "strata break" from his mining days, providing a unique perspective on the quake's force.
Official Response and UK Earthquake Context
Lancashire Police confirmed they received multiple reports of a loud explosion in the Carnforth area at the time of the quake. In a statement, they said: "There has been a minor earthquake in the area, near to the Lancashire and Cumbria border, measuring 3.3 magnitude. There have been no reports of anyone injured or damage caused." Emergency services, including police, fire, and ambulance, were deployed to the area as a precaution.
Social media pages for Carnforth and surrounding areas were flooded with reactions. Sue Anderson wrote she was "absolutely shaken to my core," while Lynn Snowdon asked, "What the hell was that? House just shaken like a leaf?" One resident in Over Kellet described the sensation as their "whole house mov[ing] side to side."
While alarming for those who felt it, the BGS notes that such events are not uncommon in the UK. The survey detects between 200 and 300 earthquakes nationally each year, though only 20 to 30 are typically strong enough to be felt by the public. This event serves as a rare and startling reminder of the UK's underlying seismic activity.
