Earthquakes in the UK
Many people think that earthquakes are an unknown phenomenon in the UK but they are wrong. Sure the UK does not usually experience severe earthquakes but that does not mean mild ones do not occur regularly. I was actually surprised to see that in the last 30 days alone there have been eight earthquakes in the UK. It is true that most of these have been very small, the strongest measuring 2.6 on the Richter Scale and the weakest 0.9, but that is not always the case. These eight recent quakes have also been in areas off the beaten track and mainly in the Highlands. This of course means that there has been minimal damage and little or no effect on life.
My recent Earthquake experience
In February 2008 England experienced what was to be its most significant earthquake for 25 years. It occurred off the east coast of England, and so where I live was close by. The earthquake struck in the middle of the night of February 27th. In bed at the time I awoke with a start. Our metal headboard rattled loudly and the bed shook violently. Having builders working during the day, in the downstairs of our home, I thought that perhaps something had fallen due to their work. I jumped out of bed shouting at my husband “what on earth’s that?” Was it an earthquake? Although I said this I did not think it was.
Hubby made a slight grunt in his sleep and no more. I looked out of the bedroom window and saw a few people coming out of their homes to see what was afoot. All was now still and so everyone went back to bed. Just like that. We probably all thought it had been something else.
The morning news reported that an earthquake, with an epicentre of 5.2 had hit parts of the UK. Hubby still knew nothing of it until he saw the news. It was short and sharp and very little damage occurred locally, although this earthquake did hit populated areas. The whole experience though made me realize just how terrible it must be to be caught up in the middle of a severe earthquake, that is not only substantial but lasts some time.
Earhquakes in the past
Earthquakes have hit the UK, on and off, much more than people realize. As a child my Mum would always place her best drinking glasses in the cupboard so that they did not touch. She used to say that, ” if a slight earthquake struck the force would break the glasses if they were touching”. This thought came back to me after the 2008 UK earthquake. Of course much worse could have happened.
The 2008 earthquake saw some injuries, such as one man who suffered a broken pelvis, after falling masonry pinned him to his bed, and structural damage to buildings in some parts of the country.
The largest UK earthquake of the 20th Century struck parts of Wales in 1984.. It measured 5.4. 1992 saw a notable earthquake also as did 2002. On the whole it would seem that the UK is more earthquake prone than one might imagine. At first thought. It would seem that the largest recorded earthquake in the UK occurred in 1580 in the South of England and that, since that time, earthquakes of varying magnitude have occurred.
As we have no formal earthquake warning system in the UK or advice it is to be hoped that British earthquakes stay slight and in uninhabited areas of the UK.
