Homes in Surrey were rocked by a ‘rare’ earthquake measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale as residents say they felt the ‘earth move’ beneath them.
People living in Dorking this afternoon were left baffled after a quake struck shortly before 12.30pm.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed the earthquake, which had an epicentre 4km west of Gatwick Airport.
According to the BGS the earthquake was felt in Newdigate and Charlwood, Surrey and in Rusper and Crawley, West Sussex.
‘A number of reports have been received from members of the public in Newdigate and Charlwood, Surrey and from Crawley, West Sussex,’ a BGS report says.
‘Typical reports describe ‘the whole house shook for a couple of seconds’, ‘there was a rumbling then a dull explosion that I felt through the floor’, ‘we were sitting on the edge of the bed which trembled’, ‘was a loud thud then a momentary shaking of the house’ and ‘the furniture seemed to shake’.’
The commuter town of Dorking was shaken by an earthquake today – although many say they did not feel a thing. Picture: Dorking from Box Hill
The British Geological Survey showed the earthquake hit a magnitude of 2.6 when it was recorded in Newdigate in Surrey
According to the British Geological Survey (BGS) the earthquake measured 2.6 on the richter scale
The BGS said the tremor had a depth of 5km in Newdigate.
There was a similar earthquake on Easter Sunday, with its epicentre on Stan Hill.
At the time David Galloway, a seismologist for BGS, described tremors in Surrey as ‘rare’.
He said: ‘We get 250 earthquakes a year in the UK so it’s not uncommon but it’s extremely rare to get one in Surrey.
‘Only 20% of all earthquakes in the country are felt but most have their epicentre in north west Scotland or the Welsh borders but never in Surrey.’
Rhys James, who works as a manager at Pets Corner told Surrey Live he felt his car move while it was parked, during the quake.
Chas Cowie, 68, from the Mole Valley Geological Society told Surrey Live tremors are becoming more common in the UK.
He added: ‘It’s 2.6 on the Richter scale. There are probably about a million of those a year around the world, so it’s something that’s felt slightly but there wouldn’t be any damage to buildings or anything like that.
‘There was one like this in Wales on the 12th, Lincolnshire on the 9th, and another in Argyle on the 14th.
‘Earthquakes are serious but we’re not really on the edge of the plate. When they slide past each other the pressure jerks and releases that pressure.
‘There’s a low probability of that happening in the UK. I would be very surprised if it was anything to do with the fracking.
Dorking was divided over the tremor today as some said they felt the earth move and others did not know anything had happened
Experts said the earthquake is one of many small natural events in recent months. Pictured: The Surrey Village of Westhumble, north of Dorking
An earthquake was felt in Surrey on Wednesday, shown by a seismograph chart
‘It may just be a subsequent release of pressure following the one at Easter that’s more likely to be damage from natural elements.
‘It’s likely to just be a natural phenomenon, like the planet just breathing. It’s a normal movement and there are a million of those a year.’
One man said he felt his home move.
He said on Twitter: ‘Anyone else in Dorking feel an earthquake just now? Whole flat shook. Could’ve been someone moving a sofa though.’
However, others said they did not feel a thing.
Simone Schuurer wrote on Twitter: ‘Bit annoyed that finally something happens in Dorking and I don’t notice a thing of it.’