Devon cottage collapses in UK earthquake

A 300-year-old cottage collapsed after Britain was shook by its largest earthquake in a decade.

Incredible CCTV footage captured the moment the historic property crumbled and fell apart just minutes after the 4.4 magnitude quake rocked Cwmllynfell, near Swansea, South Wales, yesterday.  

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said the quake was recorded at 2.20pm and the house, 185 miles from the epicentre in the village of Bow, Devon, fell apart at 2.26pm.

A cottage dating back 300 years collapsed yesterday after Britain was hit by its biggest earthquake in a decade

The building, in the village of Bow, Devon, crumbled and fell apart 11 minutes after the quake rocked Cwmllynfell, near Swansea, South Wales

The building, in the village of Bow, Devon, crumbled and fell apart 11 minutes after the quake rocked Cwmllynfell, near Swansea, South Wales

The dramatic moment was captured on grainy CCTV. One resident was in the property's back garden when it fell apart

The dramatic moment was captured on grainy CCTV. One resident was in the property’s back garden when it fell apart

Robert Crowley - who has featured in a Channel 5 Documentary Britain's Worst Neighbours - was in the back garden of the property when it collapsed

Robert Crowley – who has featured in a Channel 5 Documentary Britain’s Worst Neighbours – was in the back garden of the property when it collapsed

Robert Crowley – who has featured in a Channel 5 Documentary Britain’s Worst Neighbours – was in the back garden of the property and watched it collapse.

He said: ‘I heard a loud rumble, and felt the ground shake followed by seeing the side of my house collapsed into the driveway.’ 

Heartbreaking pictures show the damage done to unemployed Mr Crowley’s home.

He had lived there with his eight-year-old dog Jackie

The tremor, which measured 4.4 on the Richter scale, was centered eight miles north-east of Swansea in Cwmllynfell.

It was the biggest earthquake to hit the UK a decade after a 5.2 quake was recorded in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire on February 27, 2008.

The 4.4 magnitude quake was felt as far away as London

The 4.4 magnitude quake was felt as far away as London

A devastated Mr Crowley was left to survey the wreckage of his home. The wall of his sitting room caved in and part of the ceiling collapsed

A devastated Mr Crowley was left to survey the wreckage of his home. The wall of his sitting room caved in and part of the ceiling collapsed

The aftermath of a house collapsing in Devon yesterday. Workers erected metal fences around the wreckage

The aftermath of a house collapsing in Devon yesterday. Workers erected metal fences around the wreckage

Destroyed: The inside of the house in Devon after part of it collapsed. The building crumbled after an earthquake shook large parts of the UK

Destroyed: The inside of the house in Devon after part of it collapsed. The building crumbled after an earthquake shook large parts of the UK

Devastated: The end of Mr Crowley's bed was visible after part of his bedroom wall crumbled and fell away following an earthquake

Devastated: The end of Mr Crowley’s bed was visible after part of his bedroom wall crumbled and fell away following an earthquake

Although Dyfed-Powys Police said in a statement at the time that they were receiving an ‘extremely high call volume’, no injuries have since been reported.

Several buildings were reportedly damaged or evacuated as a precaution, but most people only felt the shake very briefly, or completely missed it at all.

People across the UK took to Twitter today to mock the supposed ‘carnage’ caused by the relatively small quake, or to comment on what they felt and saw.

One Twitter user wrote: ‘I appear to have missed an earthquake in Cardiff.

‘In a disaster movie, I’m that unnamed character listening to music on over-sized headphones who turns around to see a tornado/fireball/tidal wave bearing down on him when it’s just too late.’  

Another individual who barely felt the quake wrote: ‘Seeing my entire timeline on about that mini earthquake has made me feel so much better because I genuinely thought I’d watched too much BuzzFeed Unsolved and now I’m haunted.’ 

A 300-year-old cottage collapsed after Britain was shook by its largest earthquake in a decade

A 300-year-old cottage collapsed after Britain was shook by its largest earthquake in a decade

Mounds of dirt and debris lay next to the house after parts of it crumbles and fell away

Mounds of dirt and debris lay next to the house after parts of it crumbles and fell away

Mr Crowley inspects the damage to his home. He is unemployed and may have to find somewhere else to live

Mr Crowley inspects the damage to his home. He is unemployed and may have to find somewhere else to live

Mr Crowley and his Jack Russell, Jackie, in their living room following the collapse of their home

Mr Crowley and his Jack Russell, Jackie, in their living room following the collapse of their home

 

  



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