Residents across the Yorkshire Dales were jolted awake early on Sunday after a minor earthquake struck near Sedbergh, highlighting the low-level seismic activity that occasionally affects parts of Britain.
The British Geological Survey recorded the tremor at about 4am, measuring it at magnitude 2.2. The movement was detected by monitoring stations across Yorkshire, including Ingleton, Selside, Carlton, Slaidburn, Winston and Skipton.
Although the earthquake was small, residents close to the epicentre reported vibrations and loud rumbling, with some taking to social media to check whether others had experienced the same disturbance.
In nearby Tebay, Maria Davidson wrote on Facebook: “I heard it, Tebay. Woke the dogs and me up.”
Jonathan James Crowley offered a more humorous explanation, saying: “I thought it was that lad up the road with the loud exhaust….”
The tremor also prompted memories of more powerful earthquakes experienced elsewhere in Britain.
Lizzi Rallings recalled the 2002 Dudley earthquake, which measured 4.2, saying: “I remember the Dudley one in 2002. Think it was a 4.2. My stuff came off the shelves and the bed moved from the wall.”
Amanda Currie similarly remembered an earthquake in Orton during the 1970s, saying: “I remember an Earthquake when I was little in the 70s at Orton, my bed slid from one side to the other.”
Despite the early-morning shock, the BGS reported no damage from Sunday’s earthquake.
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