Diverse Places: UK Has Series Of Small Quakes

UK rocked by two earthquakes in three hours as one strikes near iconic hiking spot

Adam Cailler

The UK has been hit by two earthquakes in one day, with one striking near an iconic walking spot known as Naughty Stone in Llangynidr, Powys, and the other in Cumbria

Britain's seismic activity has intensified once again – with a famous landmark at the heart of the action. As the nation's earthquake tally surpassed 100 for the year in recent weeks, two more tremors have been recorded within the past few days.

The initial quake struck at 8.47am on Tuesday (August 19) with a 1.3 magnitude tremor hitting Kents Bank, Cumbria, though far from any populated areas.

This was registered at a depth of merely 3km below ground, making it among the most surface-level tremors the British Geological Survey has recorded this year.

The second occurred later that same day, at 9.59pm and at a depth of approximately 5km – also registering 1.3 on the Richter Scale, reports the Daily Star.

Yet this one struck near human habitation, as it hit close to a renowned walking destination known as Naughty Stone in Llangynidr, Powys.

These most recent tremors follow just days after six earthquakes struck within four hours, with vibrations detected from Scotland to southern England. The UK was rocked by a series of earthquakes on Monday, August 18, starting with a 2.1-magnitude tremor in Thornborough, Buckinghamshire at 3.05pm, followed by a 2.2-magnitude quake in Melldalloch, Argyll and Bute, Scotland at 5.21pm.

Three smaller quakes then hit Melldalloch within 38 minutes, measuring 1.1, 1.1, and 0.5 in magnitude at depths of 14, 15, and 11km respectively.

On the same day, Kents Bank, Cumbria was shaken by a 1.3-magnitude quake at 8.47am, followed by another 1.3-magnitude tremor in Llangynidr, Powys, Wales at 9.59pm.

This flurry of seismic activity follows a significant 2.5-magnitude earthquake in May which jolted residents awake in the village of Litton in the Yorkshire Dales just after 1.30am.