Seismic Activity Rattles Lancashire and Lake District, Leaving Residents Shaken
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck near Silverdale in Lancashire shortly before midnight on Wednesday, sending tremors as far as Blackpool 30 miles away. The quake, which felt like an "underground explosion" to some residents, has left many shaken.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed that this is the strongest earthquake in England since a similar magnitude event in Staffordshire in 2023 and the second in the UK this month. While earthquakes of 3.0 magnitude or above are relatively rare in the UK, this tremor was strong enough to cause widespread disturbance.
Reports from residents described feeling as if their houses were shaking, with some likening it to an "underground explosion". Many took to social media to share their experiences, with some describing the quake as "so powerful it shook the whole house".
Emergency services received numerous calls about noise before the earthquake was confirmed, and while there were no reports of injuries or damage, police officers were deployed to the area. The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance Service also responded.
The quake had a significant impact on local residents, with some claiming that it caused dogs to panic and bark incessantly. Shop alarms were also triggered in several areas.
One resident described feeling as if her town "had just been bombed", while another initially suspected an explosion at the nearby Heysham nuclear power station.
Local authorities, including Silverdale parish councillor Liz Unsworth, have described the quake as "really scary" and "distressing". The BGS has confirmed that there are typically only two or three earthquakes of similar magnitude in the UK every year, making this event all the more noteworthy.
A magnitude 3.3 earthquake struck near Silverdale in Lancashire shortly before midnight on Wednesday, sending tremors as far as Blackpool 30 miles away. The quake, which felt like an "underground explosion" to some residents, has left many shaken.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed that this is the strongest earthquake in England since a similar magnitude event in Staffordshire in 2023 and the second in the UK this month. While earthquakes of 3.0 magnitude or above are relatively rare in the UK, this tremor was strong enough to cause widespread disturbance.
Reports from residents described feeling as if their houses were shaking, with some likening it to an "underground explosion". Many took to social media to share their experiences, with some describing the quake as "so powerful it shook the whole house".
Emergency services received numerous calls about noise before the earthquake was confirmed, and while there were no reports of injuries or damage, police officers were deployed to the area. The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance Service also responded.
The quake had a significant impact on local residents, with some claiming that it caused dogs to panic and bark incessantly. Shop alarms were also triggered in several areas.
One resident described feeling as if her town "had just been bombed", while another initially suspected an explosion at the nearby Heysham nuclear power station.
Local authorities, including Silverdale parish councillor Liz Unsworth, have described the quake as "really scary" and "distressing". The BGS has confirmed that there are typically only two or three earthquakes of similar magnitude in the UK every year, making this event all the more noteworthy.