Quake strikes Britain

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Britain around Midnight on Wednesday. There have been no reports of anyone being killed or serious damage.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 (ML) on the Richter scale near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire at 00:56 GMT.

BGS said earthquakes of this size occur in the mainland UK roughly every 30 years, although are more common in offshore areas.

The epicentre was approximately 8 km east of Market Rasen and reports suggested that the earthquake was felt widely across England, with reports of damage to chimneys in the epicentral area.

“The earthquake is the largest in the UK since the magnitude 5.4 ML Lleyn Peninsula earthquake in 1984, which was widely felt across England and Wales.

The earthquake is the largest in the UK since the magnitude 5.4 ML Lleyn Peninsula earthquake in 1984, which was widely felt across England and Wales.

Seismologist Dr Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey said: ‘This is a significant earthquake for the UK and will have been widely felt across England and Wales.’

Approximately 25 earthquakes in the UK are felt by people each year.