This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/7921643.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Second earthquake hits coast town | Second earthquake hits coast town |
(about 4 hours later) | |
An earthquake has shaken a coastal town in Kent - in nearly the same spot as a tremor two years ago. | An earthquake has shaken a coastal town in Kent - in nearly the same spot as a tremor two years ago. |
The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it recorded the earthquake at 1435 GMT in Folkestone. | The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it recorded the earthquake at 1435 GMT in Folkestone. |
Assistant seismologist Julian Bukits said it had a 2.8 magnitude, compared with the quake in 2007 which was 4.3. | Assistant seismologist Julian Bukits said it had a 2.8 magnitude, compared with the quake in 2007 which was 4.3. |
Resident Terri Julians said the earthquake "sounded like thunder and everything shook". She added: "It was quite scary but amazing." | Resident Terri Julians said the earthquake "sounded like thunder and everything shook". She added: "It was quite scary but amazing." |
Stewart Smith, who works in the east Kent town, said all the buildings shook for five seconds when the tremor hit. | Stewart Smith, who works in the east Kent town, said all the buildings shook for five seconds when the tremor hit. |
He said offices in the area had been evacuated. | He said offices in the area had been evacuated. |
The epicentre of the 2007 quake was in the Channel, but this tremor was about three miles (5km) below Folkestone. | The epicentre of the 2007 quake was in the Channel, but this tremor was about three miles (5km) below Folkestone. |
A lot of people will have felt it and remembered the last one Julian Bukits | A lot of people will have felt it and remembered the last one Julian Bukits |
Mr Bukits said there was an "event near Folkestone" at 1435 GMT, but that "it wasn't anything near as big as the one two years ago". | Mr Bukits said there was an "event near Folkestone" at 1435 GMT, but that "it wasn't anything near as big as the one two years ago". |
He said the fact that it was not recorded on monitors further away from Folkestone showed it was a very localised event. | He said the fact that it was not recorded on monitors further away from Folkestone showed it was a very localised event. |
"There are no reports of damage, but a lot of people will have felt it and remembered the last one," he added. | "There are no reports of damage, but a lot of people will have felt it and remembered the last one," he added. |
He said a preliminary report showed the tremor had a magnitude of 2.8 - a figure that may go slightly up or down. | He said a preliminary report showed the tremor had a magnitude of 2.8 - a figure that may go slightly up or down. |
Mr Bukits said: "On UK terms it's not that huge. | Mr Bukits said: "On UK terms it's not that huge. |
"To give a comparison of how often we have a 2.8, I think that occurs four or five times every year." | "To give a comparison of how often we have a 2.8, I think that occurs four or five times every year." |
Mr Bukits said scientists were still analysing data from the event. | Mr Bukits said scientists were still analysing data from the event. |
The quake in 2007 saw damage to 73 buildings in Folkestone | The quake in 2007 saw damage to 73 buildings in Folkestone |
BGS seismologist Brian Baptie said : "It was a very small earthquake, even by UK standards. | BGS seismologist Brian Baptie said : "It was a very small earthquake, even by UK standards. |
"It would feel like a truck driving past your house, maybe things on shelves would rattle a bit, but there would be no structural damage expected." | "It would feel like a truck driving past your house, maybe things on shelves would rattle a bit, but there would be no structural damage expected." |
He said said five or six earthquakes of a similar magnitude were recorded every year and it was unlikely to be a precursor to a larger-scale event. | He said said five or six earthquakes of a similar magnitude were recorded every year and it was unlikely to be a precursor to a larger-scale event. |
"Only people right at the epicentre would have felt something that might have caused them alarm." | "Only people right at the epicentre would have felt something that might have caused them alarm." |
Kent Police said emergency services had received no reports of any structural damage or injuries, but were liaising with partner agencies to ensure officers provided help and support where needed. | Kent Police said emergency services had received no reports of any structural damage or injuries, but were liaising with partner agencies to ensure officers provided help and support where needed. |
To those who lived through the 2007 earthquake, it was instantly recognisable as a tremor but no one is panicking Sarah Smith | To those who lived through the 2007 earthquake, it was instantly recognisable as a tremor but no one is panicking Sarah Smith |
Sarah Smith, a spokeswoman for Shepway District Council, said: "We have just had a trickle of calls and it is nowhere near the scale of the previous earthquake in 2007, which caused widespread damage to buildings." | Sarah Smith, a spokeswoman for Shepway District Council, said: "We have just had a trickle of calls and it is nowhere near the scale of the previous earthquake in 2007, which caused widespread damage to buildings." |
She said: "The tremor felt like a juddering vibration of the floor that lasted no more than a second. It was very shortlived. | She said: "The tremor felt like a juddering vibration of the floor that lasted no more than a second. It was very shortlived. |
"To those who lived through the 2007 earthquake, it was instantly recognisable as a tremor but no one is panicking." | "To those who lived through the 2007 earthquake, it was instantly recognisable as a tremor but no one is panicking." |
Harvey Grammar School was closed as a precaution, she added. | Harvey Grammar School was closed as a precaution, she added. |
Hundreds of homes in the town were damaged by the tremor in 2007, which had its epicentre a few miles off the coast in the English Channel. | Hundreds of homes in the town were damaged by the tremor in 2007, which had its epicentre a few miles off the coast in the English Channel. |
Seventy-three buildings were so damaged that residents could not return to them because of loose chimney stacks, tiles and masonry. | Seventy-three buildings were so damaged that residents could not return to them because of loose chimney stacks, tiles and masonry. |
One person, a 30-year-old woman, suffered minor head injuries. | One person, a 30-year-old woman, suffered minor head injuries. |
Most residents forced from their homes sought refuge with families and friends, but a small number had to be housed in emergency accommodation. | Most residents forced from their homes sought refuge with families and friends, but a small number had to be housed in emergency accommodation. |
Advertisement | Advertisement |
Seismologist Brian Baptie on what may have caused the quake |