Lancashire: A 3.3-magnitude earthquake has rattled parts of north-west England, sending tremors through homes across Lancashire and the southern Lake District, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).
The quake struck shortly after 23:23, with its epicentre located just off the coast of Silverdale, Lancashire, at a shallow depth of 1.86 miles. Residents in Kendal, Ulverston, and surrounding areas, within roughly 12 miles of the epicentre, reported feeling strong vibrations.
BGS received multiple accounts describing the tremor as an underground explosion, and so powerful that it shook the whole house. Many residents reported hearing a loud bang as the quake passed.
The event was felt across the South Lakes and Lancashire, mainly within 20km of the epicentre, including Lancashire, Kendal and Ulverston. Reports describe: “felt like an explosion and vibration coming from underground” and “so powerful to shake the whole house”. pic.twitter.com/3jVo1H1yJY
— British Geological Survey (@BritGeoSurvey) December 4, 2025
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that many residents felt or heard a loud bang around Carnforth, located 18 miles north of Lancaster. Police in Lancaster also acknowledged receiving several calls about a loud explosion before confirming that a minor earthquake had occurred near the Lancashire–Cumbria border.
Authorities reported no injuries or damage, though emergency crews from Lancashire Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, and the North West Ambulance Service were deployed to survey the area as a precaution.
The Volcano Discovery website recorded more than 1,000 felt reports, with some coming from as far as Blackpool. One Carnforth resident described hearing a rumbling sound which intensified into a loud bang, adding they initially thought the roof was collapsing. Another from Silverdale reported rattling of fixtures and went outside to check for structural damage.
The BGS notes that the UK experiences around 300 earthquakes annually, though only about 10 per cent are strong enough to be felt by people.
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