Scottish Highlands hit by largest earthquake in 120 years

February 2, 2013 – SCOTLAND - A 2.4-magnitude earthquake has been recorded in one of the most northerly parts of the UK. It is the largest quake in the area for around 120 years. It was recorded by the British Geological Survey at 4.16 am yesterday, about seven miles (11km) south of the village of Durness, in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. Only one resident, who lives near Loch Eriboll, reported feeling a “slight rumbling.” The earthquake is the largest recorded in the region since one on September 26, 1887 which had a magnitude of three. The Richter Magnitude Scale typically ranges from 0 to 9. David Galloway, a seismologist at the British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, said the earthquake was fairly small and went relatively unnoticed by residents because of the time of day it happened. “We only had one person, who was already awake, report to us that they felt a slight rumbling,” he said. “Most people will have been asleep when this happened and we wouldn’t expect it to wake anyone up. If it was during the day, and in an area of higher population, we would expect more reports of people having felt it. It is one of five or six recorded in the region within a 30km (19-mile) radius, and the largest since 1887. It is not a region that experiences many earthquakes.” No reports of any damage were made. –Herald Scotland

contribution Phil

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