A surveillance camera captured the precise moment when an earthquake hit Lancashire, startling residents awake. The 3.3-magnitude tremor struck off the coast of Silverdale at 11:23 pm on Wednesday, December 3, with locals describing feeling like their properties had been struck by something due to the seismic event occurring 3 kilometers below the surface.
Witnesses reported hearing unusual sounds like a rumble and a loud crash during the tremor. Footage from a doorbell camera in Silverdale captured the earthquake as it happened.
Emergency services received numerous calls about the disturbance before the earthquake was officially confirmed. Ben Anslow, 23, recounted feeling a violent shake and a loud bang, initially mistaking it for an explosion. Residents gathered on the streets to assess the situation.
The impact caused some slight swaying, with reports indicating more noise than physical movement. Some believed chimneys were falling off roofs during the event. Despite the shock, no injuries were reported, and pets like dogs remained calm indoors.
Various residents from different areas, such as Morecambe, Heysham, Burton-in-Kendal, and Arnside, felt the tremor. People in Kendal, Ulverston, Blackpool, and Cleveleys also reported sensing the earthquake.
Residents described the experience as a strange rumble and explosion-like sensation, prompting some to check security cameras for signs of intrusions. The earthquake caused no injuries or significant damage, although emergency crews were dispatched to assess the situation.
Authorities confirmed the earthquake and urged individuals to report any damages. This marked the second earthquake in the UK that month, following a smaller tremor in South Wales earlier. The British Geological Survey records hundreds of earthquakes annually throughout the country.