An earthquake on the North Wales shoreline has been felt over an area of 140km (100 miles) from the Isle of Man to the north, Southport in Merseyside to the north east, and the east coast of Ireland to the west. The majority of the reports received by the BGS (British Geological Survey) were within a 50 to 75km radius.
It occurred at around 4.15am on May 29 2013. The epicentre was 13km north west of the town of Abersoch, Gwynedd, on the Lleyn Peninsula, was at a depth of 8km and measured a magnitude of 3.8.
This earthquake is defined as the biggest quake in the area since a 4.3 in August 1984, which was an aftershock to the 5.4 earthquake in July 1984, which was the biggest on shore earthquake in the UK ever. The epicentre was 20km south west of the 5.4 Lleyn Peninsula quake in July 1984. Such a quake (3.8 magnitude or more) might occur once every 12 to 18 months.
No damages have been reported but people were woken from their sleep. Most reported moderate shakings which was mostly defined as a trembling feeling. Windows and crockery rattled.
Some even heard a loud boom accompagnying the quake. Here a report:
“I was awoken at about 4.15am by what sounded like a deep rumble of thunder then strong shuddering, some of the bedroom furniture rattled. It must have lasted for about half a minute. At first I thought it was just a loud clap of thunder but when the furniture started shaking I realised it must be some sort of earth tremor.” – Belfast Telegraph
