…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.3 struck Staffordshire on Wednesday night, causing residents to experience “rumbling” and vibrations that shook windows and doors.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) verified the occurrence, locating the epicentre approximately 7.3km (4.5 miles) below the village of Tean, situated around 15 miles southeast of Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands.
Reports and Reactions from the Area
The BGS received reports from the surrounding region on Wednesday night, primarily within a 20km (12.5 miles) radius of the epicentre.
Witnesses described the initial sensation as a “rumbling” followed by a “bang” and a “shunt,” akin to the impact of something hitting another object.
Individuals in different areas shared their experiences during the earthquake.
Mark Begg, 30, who was at home in Uttoxeter, felt a significant tremor and inspected his surroundings for signs of damage, concluding that it was likely a minor earthquake.
Tom, 38, in Cheadle, Staffordshire, was watching a YouTube video with his wife when their house shook, causing initial concern for their children’s safety.
Earthquake Frequency and Comparison
According to the BGS, it detects and locates 200 to 300 earthquakes in the UK each year.
Only a fraction of those are felt by people, while the majority are detected by sensitive instruments.
Wednesday’s earthquake is the largest among the 21 earthquakes recorded in the UK over the past two months.
It surpassed two tremors with a magnitude of 1.8 felt on the Isle of Mull in May.
While the recent earthquake in Staffordshire is noteworthy, it falls short of the UK’s record earthquake.
The BGS cites a 6.1 magnitude tremor in the North Sea, approximately 75 miles northeast of Great Yarmouth, on June 7, 1931.
The impact of that earthquake was most prominently felt in Filey, a coastal town in North Yorkshire, where a church spire rotated.
It was also felt in locations as far as Surrey, Norway, Denmark, and Germany.