WIREDGOV

England hit by earthquake

BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY News Release issued by The Government News Network on 27 February 2008

The British Geological Survey (BGS) recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 (ML) on the Richter scale near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire at 00:56 GMT. The BGS has been inundated with calls from the public, media and emergency services throughout England.

Summary:

DATE : 27 February 2008
ORIGIN TIME : 00:56 GMT
LAT/LONG : 53.42 Degrees North / 0.35 Degrees West
GRID REF : 509.4 kmE / 392.7 kmN
DEPTH : 5.0 km
MAGNITUDE : 5.2 Richter Scale (ML)
LOCALITY : Market Rasen, Lincolnshire

The epicentre is approximately 8 km east of Market Rasen and reports suggest that the earthquake has been felt widely across England, with reports of damage to chimneys in the epicentral area. Earthquakes of this size occur in the mainland UK roughly every 30 years, although are more common in offshore areas. This is the largest earthquake in the UK since the magnitude 5.4 ML Lleyn Peninsula earthquake in 1984, which was widely felt across England and Wales.

Seismologist Dr Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey said:

"The is a significant earthquake for the UK and will have been widely felt across England and Wales".

The BGS records approximately 200 earthquakes in the UK each year on its monitoring stations. Approximately 25 earthquakes in the UK are felt by people each year.

NOTES TO EDITOR

For additional information go to:
http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/

British Geological Survey
The British Geological Survey (BGS), a part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the nation's principal supplier of objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and information for decision making for governmental, commercial and individual users. The BGS carries out research in strategically important areas including energy and natural resources, vulnerability to environmental change and hazards, and earth system science, often in collaboration with the national and international scientific academic community. In this way BGS maintains and develops understanding of earth sciences to improve policy making, enhance national wealth and reduce risk. More at http://www.bgs.ac.uk