A 3.3-magnitude earthquake jolted homes in north-west England on Wednesday night, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). The tremor struck shortly after 11:23 PM, with residents across Lancashire and the southern Lake District, including Kendal and Ulverston, reporting the shaking. The epicentre was located off the coast of Silverdale, Lancashire, at a depth of 1.86 miles.
Although no immediate damage or injuries were reported, many locals described the quake as “feeling like an underground explosion” or being “so powerful it shook the entire house.” Some residents in the Carnforth area, about 18 miles north of Lancaster, even reported hearing a loud bang.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that numerous people in the region had felt or heard the rumble. Lancaster police also acknowledged the earthquake, describing it as a “minor tremor” near the Lancashire-Cumbria border.
The Volcano Discovery website received over 1,000 reports from across the region, with some coming from as far as Blackpool. One Carnforth resident wrote, “Heard a rumbling sound that turned into a loud bang—felt like my roof was collapsing. It was very scary.” Another, in Silverdale, said, “There was a loud rumble and rattling of fixtures, like something had collapsed. It was strong enough to make me go outside and check.”
While the UK experiences around 300 earthquakes annually, only about one in ten are strong enough to be felt or heard by residents.
. The 3.3-magnitude earthquake struck north-west England.
. It occurred near Silverdale, Lancashire, and was felt in areas like Kendal and Ulverston.
. Residents described the shaking as powerful, with some hearing a loud bang.
. No injuries or damage were reported.
. There were numerous reports from locals, including one from as far as Blackpool.
. Earthquakes are common in the UK, but only a small number are felt by people.