Blackpool struck by 1.5-magnitude earthquake

Blackpool has been struck by a 1.5-magnitude earthquake, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). The tremor struck at a depth of 1.2 miles (2km) outside the village of Weeton just after 7.30pm on Friday.

Residents within Blackpool, as well as in the neighbouring villages of Little Plumpton and Westby, reported feeling the tremor.

There were also some reports to the BGS of “a noise like a train coming near”, saying “dogs were disturbed” and “computers and cabinets shook”.

Another report said “several neighbours heard it”, although staff at Weeton Village Hall and at Ream Hills holiday park outside the village said they had not heard anything, as well as members of Weeton Parish Council.

North West ambulance service said they had not heard any reports of people injured.

There have been 39 earthquakes recorded around the British Isles in the last 60 days, according to the BGS. The largest took place near the Isle of Mull in Scotland on 19 January, which had a magnitude of 3.2.

The BGS also records earthquakes induced by human activity, but none have been recorded in the last 50 days.

In 2019, the government introduced a moratorium on fracking in the UK, part of the reasoning behind the decision being tremors caused by the extraction of shale gas at Cuadrilla’s site on Preston New Road in Lancashire.