Rutland earthquake: 'We will rebuild', say locals as they mock 2.8-magnitude tremor
Small earthquake that shakes homes near market town of Oakham ripe for ridicule as social media users share pictures of 'damage'
11:53AM BST 23 Sep 2015
People living in Rutland have been shaken - but not quite stirred - by a 2.8-magnitude earthquake.
Residents near the epicentre, just north of the market town of Oakham, took to social media to express their shock at hearing a "huge roar" that left their homes shaking on Tuesday night.
But with emergency services reporting there were no casualties or damage to property, it was ripe for ridicule as social media users shared tongue-in-cheek pictures of the "damage".
@Aggerscricket First pic of Rutland earthquake epicentrepic.twitter.com/5dZB112mRN
— Paul Anthony (@tone_paul) September 23, 2015
Others reported feeling "aftershocks" - that affected at least one pack of sweeteners.
Earthquake in Rutland last night. Sweetner's gone over. #aftershockpic.twitter.com/c6onBDgWqt
— Dino and Pete (@dinoandpete) September 23, 2015
And, for other social media users, the latest earthquake brought back memories of another geological event last year.
An earthquake in Rutland, and we weren't there again. Does mean I can post an old favourite though... pic.twitter.com/tWPjIkEg4T
— Matthew Tarrant (@matt_tarrant) September 22, 2015
The British Geological Survey said the Rutland quake measured 2.8 on the Richter scale and struck at 10.40pm.
The tremor could be felt as far away as Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
We have detected a M2.8 #earthquake in the region of Oakham, Rutland. If you felt it let us know at http://t.co/4i4RQzyYEg
— BGS (@BritGeoSurvey) September 22, 2015
It is the second time this year the area has been shaken by tremors, with a 3.8-magnitude earthquake recorded in January.
— BGS (@BritGeoSurvey) September 22, 2015
People who felt the latest quake took to Twitter to report hearing a "very large bang" and "big rumble" that shook houses:
#earthquake in Rutland again a minute ago scary
— Kate Roberts (@spartanmaggie) September 22, 2015
Another earthquake! Why do we seem to have so many recently?
— Harriet Brookes (@itsharriet_) September 22, 2015
Wow - just had another earthquake here in Rutland. Perhaps not as strong as ones over the last couple of years, but still quite a sensation!
— Clive Loader (@clive_loader) September 22, 2015
Another earthquake round our way last night. I felt it at the time and thought it was unusually powerful for a HGV rumbling past
— Andy Sawford (@andy_sawford) September 23, 2015
In January, Rutland - which is the UK's smallest county with a population of just 37,000 - experienced a 3.8-magnitude earthquake.
It was also hit by two earthquakes in 48 hours in April 2014. A 3.2-magnitude quake centred on Oakham, followed by after 3.5-magnitude a day later.
Some Twitter users spoke of their fears that earthquakes are becoming "too regular" in the area.
— Helen Wells (@nelswells) September 22, 2015
They might seem like something that only hit far-away countries, but Britain actually has its fair share of earthquakes.
On average, around 200 earthquakes a year are thought to hit the UK - with a magnitude over more than four happening every two or three years.
Interactive: UK Earthquakes
A 4.2 magnitude Kent earthquake, which shook windows and caused walls to creak when it struck in May - was the biggest to hit Britain in seven years.
It was the largest since a 5.2 magnitude tremor stuck in Lincolnshire in 2008, but the British Geological Survey said it was far from unusual.
Everything you need to know about earthquakes
What is an earthquake?
An earthquake is the sudden release of strain energy in the Earth's crust resulting in waves of shaking that radiate outwards from the earthquake source.
When stresses in the crust exceed the strength of the rock, it breaks along lines of weakness, either a pre-existing or new fault plane.
Where do earthquakes occur?
Earthquakes are unevenly distributed over the earth, with the majority at the boundaries of the major crustal plates.
These plate boundaries are of three types: destructive, where the plates collide; constructive, where the plates move apart; and conservative plate boundaries, where the plates slide past each other.
Earthquakes also occur, less frequently, within the plates and far from the plate boundaries, as in eastern USA, Australia and the United Kingdom.
How often do earthquakes occur in the UK?
On average, around 200 earthquakes a year are thought to hit the UK, with a magnitude 4.2 happening every two or three years.
Here's a breakdown by magnitude:
Britain's most damaging earthquake?
The Colchester earthquake of 1884, with a magnitude of 4.6 was the most damaging earthquake in the UK for several centuries.
There was considerable damage to churches, including the top of a spire falling, falling masonry from roofs, falling turrets and parapets.
Damage to homes included shattering of brick walls, and chimney falls, often through roofs.
Largest earthquake felt in the UK?
The North Sea earthquake of 7 June 1931, with a magnitude of 6.1 and with an epicentre offshore in the Dogger Bank area is the largest known earthquake in the UK.
Seventy-one different places in the UK reported damage, with the strongest effects at Filey, where the top of a church spire was rotated.
A factory roof is reported to have collapsed at Staines, Surrey. The earthquake was reportedly felt by a number of vessels in the North Sea and a woman in Hull died of a heart attack, apparently as a result of the earthquake.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
Although it is known that most global earthquakes will concentrate at the plate boundaries, there is no reliable method of accurately predicting the time, place and magnitude of an earthquake, says the British Geological Survey.
It said: "Most current research is concerned with minimising the risk associated with earthquakes, by assessing the combination of seismic hazard and the vulnerability of a given area.
"Many seismic countries, however, have research programs based on identifying possible precursors to major earthquakes. This includes the study of dilatancy, how rocks crack and expand under the increased stress associated with the earthquake."
Where the Kent earthquake was felt (British Geological Survey) Photo: British Geological Survey
It added: "Some major earthquakes, but not all, are heralded by the occurrence of foreshocks. which can be detected by dense local monitoring networks. Other instruments can measure changes in the levels of radon gas, electrical and magnetic properties, velocity changes of seismic waves and changes in topography. Long term monitoring and examination by these sensors is required as some or all of these factors may change due to the opening of cracks prior to the earthquake.
"All attempts to predict earthquakes have, however, been generally considered as failures and it is unlikely that accurate prediction will occur in the near future. Efforts will, instead, be channelled into hazard mitigation. Earthquakes are difficult or impossible to predict because of their inherent random element and their near-chaotic behaviour."
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