UK earthquake: 'Houses shake' as magnitude 3.3 tremor hits Leighton Buzzard
Residents described their houses shaking as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake struck part of southern England on Tuesday morning.
The tremor hit Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire at 9.45am and was 10 km deep, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre earlier reported that it had recorded a 3.9 magnitude earthquake.
Watch the moment a 3.3 magnitude earthquake was felt in parts of southern England
But the BGS later said that the earthquake was smaller than initially reported elsewhere.
The BGS added it received reports from people saying the earthquake felt like a “convoy of HGV lorries driving past at great speed” and a “large explosion”.
BGS SEISMIC INFORMATION: LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDFORDSHIRE 8 SEPTEMBER 2020 08:45 UTC 3.3 ML
DATE: 8 SEPTEMBER 2020
Time (UTC): 08:45:29.2
LAT / LONG: 51.940° North / 0.695° West
DEPTH (km): 10
MAG: 3.3ML
INTENSITY: 3 EMS
REGION: 3KM NW OF LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDS pic.twitter.com/bMnb48PZvz— British Geological Survey (@BritGeoSurvey) September 8, 2020
BGS is receiving many notifications from press & public in this heavily populated area. Reports include “like a convey of HGVs driving past my front door at great speed”, “the house had one dramatic shake”, “felt like whole house was shaking” & “it was like a large explosion”.
— British Geological Survey (@BritGeoSurvey) September 8, 2020
Read more: Coronavirus cases 'increasing exponentially' ahead of Christmas
Others told the BGS that “the house had one dramatic shake”, while another said it “felt like the whole house was shaking”.
Three 999 calls (from Aston Clinton, Cheddington and Wingrave) reporting a minor #earthquake at about 9.45am, but we have not received any calls to actual incidents
— Bucks and MK Fire (@Bucksfire) September 8, 2020
Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue said it had received three 999 calls about the earthquake but no calls to actual incidents.
Twitter users in the area where the earthquake hit described how their homes shook during the tremor.
Wow! Just felt a huge shockwave through my house and the walls shook. I’m in Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire. Sonic boom? Earthquake? Meteorite? #shockwave #sonicboom
— Mark Randall (@markytalk) September 8, 2020
Honestly thought my house was about to fall down in that earthquake!Thought the builders opposite my house had smashed a crane into the place!! 🙈 #isurvived2020earthquake #earthquake #buckinghamshire #bucks
— Kerri-May Brown (@kerrimaybrown) September 8, 2020
When you get out the shower because your house is shaking and you think someone is absolutely hammering on your front door!! Ran round the house dripping wet shouting ‘hello’ like an absolute moron!! 😂😂 #earthquake #leightonbuzzard #absoluteidiot 😂 pic.twitter.com/J8d8txtB7W
— Louise Cuthbertson (@looeaze) September 8, 2020
According to the BGS, the largest known earthquake in Britain measured 6.1 and occurred near the Dogger Bank in the North Sea in 1931.
It said a magnitude 4 earthquake happens in Britain roughly every two years, while a magnitude 5 earthquake happens every 10 to 20 years.
In 2018, a 4.4 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Swansea, Wales.
Watch: Why job losses have risen despite the economy reopening
