Earthquake strikes in Central England

Central England was final night time hit by an earthquake, with residents in Staffordshire reporting their properties shaking and an “almighty noise”.

Reports counsel it struck simply after 9.15pm on Wednesday night in and round Stoke, the place heavy tremors had been felt amid unconfirmed stories on the time {that a} quake had hit the area.

Earthquake monitoring web site All Quakes said: “We are receiving unverified early reports of ground shaking possibly caused by seismic activity in or near Stoke-on-Trent, England, United Kingdom, on 28 Jun 2023 (GMT) at approximately 21:19 BST. There are no details yet on the magnitude or depth of this possible quake. If confirmed, we can expect more accurate data to emerge in the next few minutes.”

Some unconfirmed readings instructed it measured a magnitude of three.4. If verified it might be formally termed a “minor earthquake” — and quoted as “often felt by people but rarely causing any damage. You can see objects shaking.”

People flooded social media with their stories and questions. A Twitter consumer in Blythe Bridge, mentioned: “I was relaxing in the bath when there was an almighty noise and the house seemed to shake — I honestly thought a lorry had hit the house. My kids came running as did the dog and I jumped out the bath. Thankfully there doesn’t seem to be any damage.”

A resident in Biddulph reported: “I was working at my desk and it started shaking. I thought it was the neighbours next door at first.”

Laura Buckley mentioned: “Stafford felt it too. I thought someone hit the house.” Sarah Lilliburlero Barker mentioned: “Something shook my bed like the bloody Exorcist.” Karen Andy Smallwood added: “Felt it in Meir Hay. Thought I imagined it.”

One particular person instructed StokeonTrentReside: “I just experienced a tremor. My settee started juddering then stopped. I’m in Blythe Bridge. Others here felt it too.”

Reports got here in from villages and cities within the space together with: Moddershall, Blurton, Barlaston, Abbey Hulton, Caverswall, Werrington, Mossgreen, Bentilee, Trentham, Ashbourne, Stone, Bucknall, Burslem, Longton, the aptly-named Wetley Rocks, Cheadle, and Alton.

Residents reported: “Heard the weird rumble too”, “Our house was shaking”, “Felt it here”, “Very odd!”, “Cupboard next to me has glass doors, they shook & felt me seat shake too”, “Our house moved”, “I felt our house shake”.