Earthquake of 3.8 magnitude rattles Rutland

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/29/earthquake-rutland-cottesmore-east-midlands

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An earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale hit the village of Cottesmore in Rutland at 10.25pm on Wednesday, according to the US Geological Survey.

Residents told of their shock on Twitter after realising an earthquake had struck.

Sally Smart wrote: “Earthquake wow that was a biggen!! Thought a truck was coming through the house adrenalinepumping.”

A man called Ben wrote: “How was there an earthquake in England? It’s the end of the world.”

Another called Dirk wrote: “Meanwhile on Facebook, people from my village, where the earthquake barely hit, are making sure they’re all okay and prepared for the worst.”

Others posted photographs of framed pictures hanging on the walls slightly askew to show the aftermath of the earthquake.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said: “Just looking into reports of a possible earthquake in the Leics/Rutland area. Watch this space.”

It comes after an earthquake hit Winchester on Tuesday night, with police receiving reports of something that “felt like an explosion which shook their houses”.

The quake is believed to have hit the Hampshire town at about 6.30pm at a depth of three kilometres, according to the BGS website.

A police spokesman said that no explanation or cause for the shaking could be found and no injuries had been reported.

The BGS said it had received a report from a resident who said “the whole bed was visibly shaking” as well as one who said the earthquake sounded “like a bus” crashing “into the neighbours house at speed”.

Another told the BGS: “At least five other households ran outside to make sense of what had shook the houses.”

In April last year, earthquakes measuring 3.2 and 3.5 magnitude struck Rutland on consecutive days.