Magnitude 3.3 Earthquake on the north Lancashire coast.

The British Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.3 Earthquake at a depth of 3 km, near Sliverdale in Lancashire, England, slightly before 11.25 pm GMT on Wednesday 3 December 2025. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, and nor would any be expected of an Earthquake of this size, but it was felt across Lancashire, with isolated reports of people feeling movement as far away as Newcastle and Nottingham.

The approximate location of the 3 December 2025 Lancashire Earthquake. USGS.

Earthquakes become more common as you travel north and west in Great Britain, with the west coast of Scotland being the most quake-prone part of the island and the northwest of Wales being more prone  to quakes than the rest of Wales or most of England. However, while quakes in southern England are less frequent, they are often larger than events in the north, as tectonic pressures tend to build up for longer periods of time between events, so that when they occur more pressure is released.

The precise cause of Earthquakes in the UK can be hard to determine; the country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the interplay between these forces.

Britain is being pushed to the east by the expansion of the Atlantic Ocean and to the north by the impact of Africa into Europe from the south. It is also affected by lesser areas of tectonic spreading beneath the North Sea, Rhine Valley and Bay of Biscay. Finally the country is subject to glacial rebound; until about 10 000 years ago much of the north of the country was covered by a thick layer of glacial ice (this is believed to have been thickest on the west coast of Scotland), pushing the rocks of the British lithosphere down into the underlying mantle. This ice is now gone, and the rocks are springing (slowly) back into their original position, causing the occasional Earthquake in the process.

(Top) Simplified diagram showing principle of glacial rebound. Wikipedia. (Bottom) Map showing the rate of glacial rebound in various parts of the UK. Note that some parts of England and Wales show negative values, these areas are being pushed down slightly by uplift in Scotland, as the entire landmass is quite rigid and acts a bit like a see-saw. Climate North East.

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. If you felt this quake, or were in the area but did not (which is also useful information) then you can report it to the British Geological Survey here. 

See also...

Magnitude 5.0 Earthqauke in the Charente-Maritime Department of southwestern France.

The Centre Sismologique Euro-Méditerranéen recorded a Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake at a depth of about 10 km, roughly 11 km to the northwest of the commune of Surgères in the Charente-Maritime Department of southwest France, slightly before 6.40 pm local time (slightly before 6.40 pm GMT) on Friday 16  June 2023. The Earthquake is reported to have been felt across much of western France, with one person is reported to have received treatment for minor injuries in the Deux-Sevres Department, and reports of damage to buildings in the Charente-Maritime and Deux-Sevres departments.

The approximate location of the 16 June 2023 Charente-Maritime Department Earthquake. Centre Seismologique Euro-Méditeranéen.

The precise cause of Earthquakes in France can be hard to determine; the country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the interplay between these forces.

France is being pushed to the east by the expansion of the Atlantic Ocean and to the north by the impact of Africa into Europe from the south. It is also affected by lesser areas of tectonic spreading beneath the North Sea, Rhine Valley and Bay of Biscay. Finally, the country is subject to glacial rebound; until about 10 000 years ago much of the mountainous and upland areas of the country were covered by a thick layer of glacial ice, pushing the rocks of the French lithosphere down into the underlying mantle. This ice is now gone, and the rocks are springing (slowly) back into their original position, causing the occasional Earthquake in the process. 

Glacial rebound seems an unlikely cause of Earthquakes in the Channel region, an area that was never glaciated, but this is not entirely the case. The northwest of Scotland is rising up faster than any other part of the UK, but the Earth's crust on land in the UK is fairly thick, and does not bend particularly freely, whereas the crust beneath the Channel is comparatively thin and more inclined to bend under stress. Thus, uplift in Scotland can cause the entire landmass of Great Britain to pivot, causing movement in the rocks beneath the Channel, and affecting both the English and French coasts.

(Top) Simplified diagram showing principle of glacial rebound. (Bottom) The extent of glaciation in Europe at the last glacial maximum. Wikipedia.

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The Centre Seismologique Euro-Méditeranéen is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to them here.

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Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake in Gwent, South Wales.

The British Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake at a depth of about 3 km, beneath the town of Brynmawr in Gwent, South Wales, slightly before midnight GMT on Friday 24 February 2023. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, and nor would they be expected with an Earthquake this small, but the quake was felt by a large number of people within 40 km of the epicentre, with several reports of people feeling it further afield in Wales and the Midlands region of England.

The approximate location of the 24 February 2023 Brynmawr Earthquake. British Geological Survey.

Earthquakes become more common as you travel north and west in Great Britain, with the west coast of Scotland being the most quake-prone part of the island and the northwest of Wales being more prone  to quakes than the rest of Wales or most of England.

 

The precise cause of Earthquakes in the UK can be hard to determine; the country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the interplay between these forces.

The precise cause of Earthquakes in the UK can be hard to determine; the country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the interplay between these forces.

(Top) Simplified diagram showing principle of glacial rebound. Wikipedia. (Bottom) Map showing the rate of glacial rebound in various parts of the UK. Note that some parts of England and Wales show negative values, these areas are being pushed down slightly by uplift in Scotland, as the entire landmass is quite rigid and acts a bit like a see-saw. Climate North East. 

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. If you felt this quake, or were in the area but did not (which is also useful information) then you can report it to the British Geological Survey here.  

See also...

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Magnitude 2.3 Earthquake in Northamptonshire, England.

The British Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 2.3 Earthquake at a depth of 6 km, about 10 km to the east of the town of Corby in Northamptonshire, England, slightly after 11.30 am British Summertime (slightly after 10.30 am GMT) on Friday 6 May 2022. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, and nor would any be expected of an Earthquake of this size, but it was felt in Corby, Oundle and in a few villages in Northamptonshire, mainly from within around 10 km from the epicentre.

 

 

The approximate location of the 6 May 2022 Northamptonshire Earthquake. Google Maps.

Earthquakes become more common as you travel north and west in Great Britain, with the west coast of Scotland being the most quake-prone part of the island and the northwest of Wales being more prone  to quakes than the rest of Wales or most of England. However, while quakes in southern England are less frequent, they are often larger than events in the north, as tectonic pressures tend to build up for longer periods of time between events, so that when they occur more pressure is released.

The precise cause of Earthquakes in the UK can be hard to determine; the country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the interplay between these forces.

Britain is being pushed to the east by the expansion of the Atlantic Ocean and to the north by the impact of Africa into Europe from the south. It is also affected by lesser areas of tectonic spreading beneath the North Sea, Rhine Valley and Bay of Biscay. Finally the country is subject to glacial rebound; until about 10 000 years ago much of the north of the country was covered by a thick layer of glacial ice (this is believed to have been thickest on the west coast of Scotland), pushing the rocks of the British lithosphere down into the underlying mantle. This ice is now gone, and the rocks are springing (slowly) back into their original position, causing the occasional Earthquake in the process.

 

(Top) Simplified diagram showing principle of glacial rebound. Wikipedia. (Bottom) Map showing the rate of glacial rebound in various parts of the UK. Note that some parts of England and Wales show negative values, these areas are being pushed down slightly by uplift in Scotland, as the entire landmass is quite rigid and acts a bit like a see-saw. Climate North East.

 

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. If you felt this quake, or were in the area but did not (which is also useful information) then you can report it to the British Geological Survey here. 

 

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