English Channel earthquake strikes West Sussex

THE British Geological Survey detected an earthquake of magnitude 3.9 in the English Channel shortly before 8am today (Thursday, July 14).

By The Newsroom

Published 14th Jul 2011, 13:49 BST

The earthquake was located approximately 80km south-south-east of Portsmouth, Hampshire.

Several residents from the Worthing area reported feeling the quake, one saying: “It only lasted a few seconds”.

Dr David Kerridge, British Geological Survey director of geoscience research, said: “This is the largest earthquake in this area, within 25km, since a magnitude 4.5 event in 1734.

“Historically, there have been two other significant events nearby, within 30 to 40km – a magnitude 5.0 earthquake in 1878 and a magnitude 4.3 earthquake in 1750.

“In the UK we experience a earthquake of this magnitude approximately every two years.”

Did you feel the earthquake?

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