Post by : Rameen Ariff

A mild yet widely felt earthquake shook parts of north-west England on Wednesday night, leaving residents startled as houses trembled and loud bangs echoed across several towns. According to the British Geological Survey (BGS), the 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck shortly after 11:23 pm and was felt across Lancashire and the southern Lake District.

The quake’s epicentre was recorded just off the coast of Silverdale in Lancashire, at a shallow depth of around 1.86 miles. Although the earthquake was not powerful enough to cause damage, the sudden shaking prompted dozens of people to rush outdoors in fear.

Residents described the tremor as feeling like an “underground explosion” and said the shaking was strong enough to make furniture rattle. Many reported that their houses shook briefly, creating panic in quiet neighbourhoods.

In Carnforth, the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said numerous people heard a loud bang as the ground trembled. Lancaster Police confirmed receiving similar reports and later stated that the noise and vibrations were linked to a “minor earthquake near the Lancashire–Cumbria border.”

Officials reassured the public that there were no injuries or structural damage. Emergency teams from the police, fire service, and North West Ambulance Service were sent to the area as a precaution.

The Volcano Discovery website logged over 1,000 citizen reports, including from locations as distant as Blackpool. One resident from Carnforth said the rumbling grew so strong that it “felt as if the roof was collapsing.” Another in Silverdale said the shaking was significant enough to make them leave the house to check for damage.

Earthquakes in the UK are not unusual. The BGS records around 300 tremors every year, though only about 30 are strong enough to be noticed by residents. Wednesday night’s 3.3-magnitude quake was among the more widely felt ones this year, reminding people that even small quakes can create a surprising impact when they occur close to the surface.

#Global News