A significant late-night earthquake sent tremors through homes across north-west England, startling residents and prompting hundreds of reports to monitoring services.
Details of the Seismic Event
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed a 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck shortly after 11.23 pm on Wednesday night. The seismic event's epicentre was located just off the coast of Silverdale, Lancashire, at a depth of approximately 1.86 miles.
The tremor was felt widely across communities in Lancashire and the southern Lake District. Towns within a 12-mile radius, including Kendal and Ulverston, reported noticeable shaking. Residents described the experience to the BGS as feeling "like an underground explosion" and noted it was "so powerful it shook the whole house".
Public Response and Geological Context
The Volcano Discovery website, which tracks global seismic activity, received more than 1,100 reports from people in the affected region. Most individuals characterised the shaking as "light" or "weak".
This event highlights the UK's low-level but persistent seismic activity. The BGS detects between 200 and 300 earthquakes across the country every year. However, only a small fraction—typically 20 to 30—are strong enough to be felt by the public. The vast majority are recorded solely by sensitive instruments and cause no damage.
Recent Seismic Activity in the UK and Beyond
The most recent UK earthquake to exceed a 3.3 magnitude occurred on 20 October, affecting parts of Perth and Kinross in Scotland. That tremor struck at 7.25 am, with its epicentre in Pubil, within the Glen Lyon region.
Internationally, the US state of Alaska experienced a much larger 6.0-magnitude earthquake last week. It struck shortly after 8 am on Thanksgiving near Susitna, about 37 miles northwest of Anchorage. Tremors were felt from around 350 miles away, but there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties.
Alaska is the most seismically active US region. The state experienced the second-largest recorded earthquake in history in 1964, which measured a colossal 9.2 magnitude. Last week's quake was the largest in south-central Alaska since 2021.
