North West England Shaken by 3.3 Magnitude Earthquake as Residents Report Houses Trembling
Homes across Lancashire and the southern Lake District shook late Wednesday after a 3.3 magnitude earthquake struck just off the coast of Silverdale, the British Geological Survey confirmed.
The tremor hit shortly after 23:23 and was felt across communities within 12 miles of the epicentre, including Kendal and Ulverston. Despite widespread alarm, there were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
North West England Earthquake
Data shows the quake originated roughly 1.86 miles underground. Residents told the BGS the jolt “felt like an underground explosion” and that the force “shook the whole house”.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service reported that many people in the Carnforth area heard or felt what sounded like a loud bang. Police in Lancaster also received calls about a suspected explosion before confirming a minor earthquake near the Lancashire and Cumbria border.
Officers, along with fire crews and ambulance services, were sent to the area as a precaution. Authorities said there had been no reports of injuries or damage.
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The Volcano Discovery website logged more than 1,000 witness reports, including some from as far away as Blackpool.
One resident in Carnforth described hearing “a rumbling sound which intensified into a loud bang. Thought my roof was collapsing or something, very scary.”
Another in Silverdale reported “a loud rumble and rattling of fixtures in the house, as though something had collapsed or the chimney had fallen off. Significant enough to go outside to check.”
The British Geological Survey records around 300 earthquakes in the UK each year although only about a tenth are strong enough for people to feel or hear.
