Cornwall hit by earthquake measuring 2.2 on the Richter scale
Parts of Cornwall have been struck by an earthquake measuring 2.2 on the Richter scale.
People reported feeling their houses shake after the tremor hit areas of west Cornwall including Helston, Redruth and Falmouth on Thursday.
The British Geological Survey confirmed that a quake had hit 5km south-west of Falmouth just before 5pm measuring 2.2 on the Richter scale.
It said it had received a large number of reports from members of the public.
One person described a: “loud bang from beneath” as they sat on the sofa, adding: “windows shook”.
SEISMIC ALERT Cont’d:
A small number of reports have been received from the immediate area by members of the public. One described “Loud bang from beneath (I was sat on sofa). Windows shook”— British Geological Survey (@BritGeoSurvey) August 8, 2019
One person wrote on Twitter: “What the hell was that! The whole house shook”, while another said: “Heard it and shook the house in Breage.”
There were a few jokes too, with Lynsey Green posting a meme showing a broken pasty as a victim of the tremor.
Loud bang and building shook at Gweek, Helford
— Anteros (@AnterosArrows) August 8, 2019
#earthquake #cornwall #pasty pic.twitter.com/vng86M8Hb5
— Lynsey Green (@LynseyG44964606) August 9, 2019
It is believed the quake was caused by movement in the Carrick Thrust fault line, which runs along the Cornish Coast.
The British Geological Survey said in the UK there are around 15 events of this size or greater each year - and globally around 700 per day.
