3.3-magnitude quake ‘shakes homes and wakes people up’ in North West England

Dozens of people reported feeling tremors late on Wednesday after a 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck Lancashire, with shaking also detected in parts of neighbouring Cumbria.

According to the British Geological Survey (BGS), the quake was “felt across the South Lakes and Lancashire, mainly within 20km of the epicentre”, including areas such as Kendal and Ulverston.

Preliminary data shows the earthquake occurred off the coast of Silverdale at 11:23pm, at a shallow depth of around 3km (1.86 miles).

The BGS confirmed that seismic stations across northwest England registered the event. Although the UK experiences between 200 and 300 earthquakes each year, only around 20 to 30 are strong enough for residents to feel. Most are minor and cause no damage.

Residents describe the moment

People took to social media to share their experiences. Some described the tremor as “an explosion and vibration coming from underground,” while others said it “sounded like bricks falling” or was strong enough to “shake the whole house.”

One resident in Carnforth, near the epicentre, wrote:
“Whole place shook twice here in a lakeside holiday rental.”

Another said they initially mistook the noise for a slamming door before realising it was an earthquake. Several unverified comments also reported shaking as far as the Fylde Peninsula, including Fleetwood and Poulton-le-Fylde.

Recent UK seismic activity

The most recent UK earthquake stronger than 3.3 magnitude occurred on 20 October, when a 3.7-magnitude tremor struck near Loch Lyon in Perth and Kinross. It was part of a cluster of quakes recorded over several days.

Lancashire has a history of seismic events, including tremors linked to fracking. A 2.1-magnitude quake near Cuadrilla’s Blackpool site in 2019 contributed to the government’s decision to impose a fracking ban in England.

Not all seismic readings are natural, however. The BGS has previously detected vibrations caused by large football celebrations, including reactions from Liverpool and Scotland fans.