April 28, 2007
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I didn’t even know England HAD earthquakes.
Apparently it does, however, seeing as how there was one this morning that whupped up on Kent, causing chimneys to topple, etc. It was a 4.3 off the coast of Dover.
Fairly stout damage for a 4.3! ISTM in California a tremblor of that magnitude mostly shakes stuff, but that’s all. Perhaps it’s because buildings in California are built with quakes in mind?
Here’s a list (from BBC) of other recent British earthquakes:
December 2006 – Dumfries and Galloway (magnitude 3.5)September 2002 – Dudley, West Midlands (5.0)October 2001 – Melton Mowbray (4.1)September 2000 – Warwick (4.2)April 1990 – Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire (5.1)July 1984 – Nefyn, north Wales (5.4)June 1931 – in North Sea near Great Yarmouth (6.1)In 1580 an earthquake in the same region killed a couple of people in London.
Comments (2)
I understand the epicanter was right near the Chunnel entrance. Still, when you consider that the English Channel is the result of England splitting from France, it makes sense. That apparently happed within human existence there. Bet that Chunnel’s getting a pretty thorough inspection as we speak!
Maybe stuff like chimneys fall off there because they’re so old? Of course, they’re not built for earthquake protection, so many of those old buildings being much older than the USA. Just a thought.
How creepy would it be to be in the Chunnel when a trembler happens? Eeeeek!!
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