Cumbria, UK Left Shaken After Recent Earthquake

The recent earthquake in Cumbria, England is the largest earthquake in the region since a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Lancaster in 1835, according to British Geological Survey group.

Cumbria was struck by a magnitude 3.7 earthquake on 28 April 2009 at 11:22 BST. The British Geological Survey group reports the earthquakes epicentre was approximately 5 kilometres southeast of Ulverston, Cumbria, at a depth of around 9 km.

Seismologist Dr Brian Baptie, reassured concerned residents of the Cumbria in a British Geological Survey release that 'an earthquake of this size occurs somewhere in the UK roughly every year. It is unlikely to have caused significant damage.'

While this is the largest instrumental earthquake in the Cumbria region since a magnitude 3.0 earthquake that occurred 11 km to the northeast, near Grange-over-Sands, in 1993, there have been 5 earthquakes reported by the British Geological Survey group in as many months.

The British Geological Survey recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 ML approximately 8 km southeast of Hull at 11:39 UTC on 11 April 2009. (BGS)

BGS recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 1.9ML after receiving a number of reports from the Media and from residents in the Bonawe, Taynuilt, Connel and North Connel areas of Argyll & Bute, of a felt event 24 March 2009 at around 08:00 UTC. (BGS)

The British Geological Survey recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 directly under Folkestone at 14:35 on 3 March 2009. (BGS)

BGS have received a number of reports of an earthquake from residents in the Shetland Isles on 15 January. The earthquake had a magnitude of 3.3 with an epicentre on the Shetland Isles. (BGS)

According to the British Geological Survey group, "the most significant earthquake to have struck the [Cumbria] area was the 1835 Lancaster earthquake which had a magnitude of 4.4 ML and caused only very minor damage."

In their post-earthquake questioning of the population of Cumbria and surrounding areas, the British Geological Survey group found that people living closest to the epicenter described the noise made by the earthquake "as sounding like a heavy clap of thunder or a quarry blast and of the whole house shaking." Further, there were a few reports of objects falling over or coming off the wall. So far, there have been no reports of damage to property, or personal injury.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) is the nation's principal supplier of objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and information for decision making for governmental, commercial and individual users.