UK towns hit by earthquake as residents woken by 2.5 tremor making 'ground shake'
21.04.2024 - 04:12
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Brits were woken this morning by a massive earthquake which made the "ground shake".
Residents in Matlock and Derby, Derbyshire, and Belton in Leicestershire, heard the tremor which registered as 2.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, the Mirror reports.
The 'rumbling' was felt at around 1.42am, with some residents describing how it "shook" their bedside tables. Others recalled previous tremors in the area that had "petrified" them and their pets.
Experts said it was the 'biggest event' since a quake had struck in the Derbyshire area in January this year.
David Galloway, a seismologist at British Geological Survey (BGS) said: “At 2:42om on 19 April 2024 an earthquake, with a magnitude of 2.5 ML and a focal depth of around 7 km, occurred around 5km from Belper, Derbyshire. We (BGS) received a few reports, via online macroseismic questionnaires, of the earthquake being felt in Matlock and Derby (Derbyshire) and in Belton (Leicestershire).
“The reports described “felt a weak trembling” and “heard a moderate rumbling sound”. This is the largest event detected in the area, within 50 km, since a similar magnitude 2.5 ML earthquake occurred near Buxton, Derbyshire on 2 January 2024, which was felt in Buxton, Dove Holes and King Sterndale."
One resident said of this morning's incident: "I thought it was another low-flying plane, it was quite a rumble whatever it was." Another added: "Yes, I [heard it] too! I didn't hear anything outside but some items rattled on my bedside table."
Some residents were pleased to have missed the quake, with one local adding: "Wow, I slept right through it which is unusual for me. I was in an earthquake in Brum about 20 years ago and that was 4.5 mag. It seemed to go on forever and it petrified me and the