The UK has recorded three earthquakes today. Homes were shaken and people woken in the middle of the night.
Scotland was jolted by the three unexpected earthquakes today. The first occurred at 3.03am, registering a magnitude of 2.2 on the Richter scale – the established measuring stick for earthquake intensity.
Two additional quakes followed at 8.09am and 8.27am. The small quakes all happened in Argyll and Bute, where the coastal town of Oban and neighbouring areas felt the impact as “loud bangs” were felt at about 3am.
The earliest vibration emanated from three miles off the Oban coast, prompting scores of locals to share their encounters on social media. The subsequent tremors clocked in at weaker magnitudes of 1.6 and 0.5.
Officials have confirmed the news, saying an earthquake struck off the west coast of Scotland early this morning. Dr. Callum Harrison, seismologist at the British Geological Survey, confirmed an earthquake occurred at 3.03 am, stating: “At 3.03am on Wednesday, February 5 there was a 2.2 magnitude earthquake 5km east of Oban, within the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland.”
The tremor reached the Isle of Kerrera, just a mile from Oban, and stretched as far as the Isles of Seil and Mull and the village of Kilchrenan, each roughly ten miles from the epicentre in contrasting directions, reports the Daily Record. One person posted: “Did anyone else just hear/feel a rumble? About 3am.”
Replies came streaming in, with one saying: “House shook and then I heard rumble noise. 3.03.” Another said: “Yes, Longsdale Road 3.03am. loud rumble and house was creaking.”
Still another said: “I didn’t, but the dog woke me up whining just after 3 so he probably did! And I heard a boom around 8am.”
Another said: “Yip. Woke me back of 3am here on the Isle of Seil – lasted good few seconds. Also felt more of a boom back of 8am – read that one was likely to have been an aftershock.”
Another resident agreed: “Yes I did. And again at 8 o’clock.” A further local resident said: “Yes, and again at around 08.10 this morning.”
A separate post stated: “Yes on mull.” Another member wrote: “Yip, house shook at 0304, woke me up.”
Someone else reported: “Yes also felt and heard on Kerrera around 3am.” Another also replied: “Yes heard it but didn’t feel anything.”