Residents across north-west England were jolted late on Wednesday night as a noticeable earthquake shook the region. The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed the seismic event, which registered a magnitude of 3.3.
Details of the Night-Time Tremor
The earthquake struck shortly after 11.23 pm on Wednesday. According to seismic data, the epicentre was located just off the coast of Silverdale, Lancashire, at a relatively shallow depth of 1.86 miles. The tremor was felt across a swathe of Lancashire and the southern Lake District, with residents in towns like Kendal and Ulverston—within a 12-mile radius of the epicentre—reporting strong shaking.
Residents Describe the Experience
People who felt the quake described a sudden and powerful sensation. Reports submitted to the BGS likened the experience to "an underground explosion", with one resident stating it was "so powerful it shook the whole house". The Volcano Discovery website, which also monitors seismic activity, received a significant more than 1,100 reports from individuals in the area at the time. The majority of these described the shaking as "light" or "weak".
Earthquakes in the UK: A Common but Often Unfelt Phenomenon
While the event caused alarm for some, it serves as a reminder of the UK's low-level seismic activity. The BGS detects between 200 and 300 earthquakes in the country annually. However, only a small fraction—around 20 to 30—are typically strong enough to be felt by the public. The vast majority are recorded only by sensitive instruments and cause little to no damage.
This recent event follows another felt earthquake earlier in the year. The most recent tremor exceeding a magnitude of 3.3 was recorded in parts of Perth and Kinross on October 20. The BGS said that quake occurred at 7.25am, with its epicentre near Pubil in the Glen Lyon region.
This is a breaking news story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available from geological authorities.
