Oakham, Rutland

Earthquake of 3.2-magnitude hits Oakham, Rutland

Residents report houses shaking during earthquake that was felt up to 28 miles away
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A 3.2 magnitude earthquake near Oakham, Rutland, which was felt up to 28 miles away, is being investigated by seismologists.
The quake, triggered at a depth of 2.5 miles at 7.07am on Thursday, was recorded by the British Geological Survey (BGS), which said that its seismologists were analysing the data.
Former English rugby union player Austin Healey tweeted: "We've just had an earthquake in Oakham. The house was shaking for about 10 secs."
John Park wrote: "What the hell was that. Whole house shook about 7.07am! It was either an explosion or earthquake in Rutland. Anyone else feel it?"
Kerry Rough tweeted: "Woke me up. I thought the house was falling down." Sara Dodd, who is in Whissendine, tweeted that it "felt like an explosion but without any sound".
Another resident – identified as Ali W – wrote on Twitter: "It was different to the last one … A massive bang rather than a shake."
She added: "I even thought a train had crashed at the back of us."
Tremors were felt in Stamford and the Deepings in Lincolnshire, among other places. "Did anyone else just feel an earth tremor in Stamford? Things just fell off my shelves," tweeted Louise Warren, posting as LingBeast. She said she felt tremors at about 7.15am.
Lawrence Green, @lawrence41green, tweeted: "Are we expecting a tsunami from Rutland water after this morning's earthquake??"
He added: "Was on my knees painting the skirting boards, very weird situation, kept a straight paint line though."
The BGS said the 28-mile distance over which the quake was felt was not unusual for an event of its size. It has so far received more than 180 reports from local people.
The agency has launched an online questionnaire to help assess the impact on the local area. It has recorded 44 earthquakes around Britain over the past 50 days, but only one – in the eastern North Sea – of a similar magnitude. Several have been around New Ollerton in Nottinghamshire, where 91 small earthquakes, the largest of 1.8 magnitude, have been recorded since mid-December. That area has a history of seismic activity related to coal mining.
"There have been no reports of structural damage from mining-induced earthquakes in the UK in the past 40 years," said the BGS, but an event of a 3.0 magnitude could be strongly felt and cause some alarm.
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