Earthquake of 4.3 Magnitude Hits Kent

An earthquake of 4.2 magnitude has hit Kent
, shaking buildings and waking up residents. The tremor was recorded at a depth of 9.5 miles (15km) about 1.4 miles (2km) west of Ramsgate in Thanet at around 3am.

Simon Moores, who lives in Westgate-On-Sea close to Margate, told Sky News: "There was a sudden, violent jarring and shaking."Dogs started barking. It lasted for around 10 seconds."It was very disconcerting indeed.

"The British Geological Survey
tweeted: "Prelim data now online: earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/re...4.2 magnitude earthquake nr Sandwich, Kent."Earthquakes similar in size to the one that hit Kent happen around every two years in the UK and about 4,500 times a year across the world, it said.It added: "Today's 4.2 magnitude Ramsgate earthquake is approx 260,000 times smaller than the 7.8 Nepal Quake event."Kent Police were inundated with calls about the incident.The force tweeted: "We are aware of reports of tremors being felt by residents in East Kent & are monitoring the situation. No injuries have been reported."According to seismologists on the continent, the tremor was also felt in northern France, though only five calls to emergency services have been reported and there were no apparent causes for any urgent responses.People in the region tweeted their reactions after being woken up by the quake.Vikki Petts said: "So we just had a 4.3 magnitude earthquake in Kent and my housemates slept through the entire thing. certainly woke me up!"Jonathan Tapp said: "Earthquake in East Kent and now can't get back to sleep."Despite months spent in NZ this is my first one that I've felt."Iain Buchanan, of Ramsgate, said: "So I'm not going mental, my house shook due to an earthquake in Kent of all places. Thank god for 24 hrs news & social media to find out."He added: "Lying in bed when the house suddenly shook."Thought something had collapsed outside, so got up to check."I've looked outside and all appears to be fine in the street. No damage that I can see. Will obviously see more later when it's lighter."Weird experience anyway."In Birchington-On-Sea, Sophie Rose tweeted: "I was terrified for a few seconds and it makes me think of how scared everyone must have been in the Nepal earthquakes."Jake West in Canterbury posted: "Either a giant just bounced off my roof, or I just felt a little earthquake." And Jenny Mills of Canvey Island in Essex said: "...just had a mini-earthquake. Whole house and bed really shook. Scary."It is not the first time Kent has been hit by an earthquake.Back in 2007, Folkestone experienced a tremor of magnitude 4.3.The strongest earthquake recorded in the UK since measurements began was the 1931 Dogger Bank quake in the North Sea.Striking 60 miles (97km) off the Yorkshire coast it had a magnitude of 6.1 and the effects were felt throughout Great Britain as well as Belgium and France.