A moderate earthquake rattled parts of south-east England on Saturday morning. There were reports of structural damage but no immediate reports of injuries.
Data from the United States Geological Survey said the 4,7-magnitude quake struck at 8.18am local time, about 100km south-east of London.
Witnesses said cracks appeared in walls and chimneys collapsed across the county of Kent, where police said emergency services were responding.
”It looks like there has been a small earth tremor,” a Kent police spokesperson said. ”Electricity is down in certain areas as are some telephone lines.”
Residents said the tremor lasted about 10 to 15 seconds.
”I was lying in bed and it felt as if someone had just got up from bed next to me,” said Hendrick van Eck (27), of Canterbury, 100km south-east of London.
”I then heard the sound of cracking, and it was getting heavier and heavier. It felt as if someone was at the end of my bed hopping up and down.”
There are thousands of moderate quakes on this scale around the world each year, but they are rare in Britain. The country’s strongest earthquake took place in the North Sea in 1931, measuring 6,1. — Sapa-AP, Reuters