Ninth earthquake in two years hits Rutland area

A British Geological Survey map showing where an earthquake was felt in and around Rutland on September 22, 2015. EMN-150923-105016001

The British Geological Survey recorded a 2.8 magnitude seismic movement at 10.40pm yesterday (September 22), some two kilometres under Cottesmore. People reported feeling tremors across the county and further afield, from Melton Mowbray to Stamford and Peterborough.

The British Geological Society confirmed the earthquake and on Wednesday morning called on anyone who felt it to help fill in their survey.

Seismologist Davie Galloway said the number of tremors was not unusual, adding: “We record about 200 earthquakes every year. Rutland is not the only place to experience a series or swarm of earthquakes.”

Readers went straight to social media to let us know whether they felt it or not.

The Safewater Solutions account posted: “Think we’ve just felt another earthquake in Uppingham!” while Elms Landscapes in Oakham wrote: “Had just got back from @DIYSOS in Manchester, thought we were still knocking things down in the house.”

Anthony Lawton said: “Must’ve been Oakham earthquake set off our house fire detector, about 15 miles away in Church Langton.”

Steve Carr said: “OK own up people, how many thought their boiler blew up last night?”

Head of strength and conditioning at Oakham School Joel Tratt said: “Nothing compared to the last one in terms of intensity of duration though.”

But Jim Bolton asked: “Should Cottesmore be ‘twinned’ with San Francisco? After so many earthquakes.”

No serious damage was reported as a result of this earthquake.

Rumblings in Rutland

Recently Rutland has experienced its fair share of earth-shaking days.

A 3.2 magnitude tremor was felt in the county on April 17 last year.

This was followed by a 3.5 earthquake the next day, April 18.

A third, much smaller 1.7 tremor was felt on April 28, with its epicentre near Ashwell.

On July 25 there was a 1.5 earthquake, with two more smaller tremors that were not felt on August 2 and 5.

All was quiet for the rest of 2014 but on January 28 this year a 3.8 earthquake with the epicentre near Cottesmore shook the county and further afield. And the last before this week was a 0.8 tremor on May 26.

Take part in the British Geological Survey’s questionnaire here