A 2.9 magnitude earthquake shook parts of western Scotland on Sunday evening, sending tremors through several communities, but fortunately causing no damage.
Earthquake Strikes Remote Lochaber Region
The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed that the tremor hit at 20:45, with its epicenter located in Kinloch, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of Oban. The earthquake, though minor in magnitude, was felt across a wide area, including Strontian, the island of Mull, and other surrounding villages.
Despite its noticeable impact, the earthquake was not powerful enough to cause any structural damage, and no injuries were reported. Local residents from areas up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the epicenter shared reports of the tremors with BGS, describing various experiences of the event.
Sensory Reports of the Earthquake
Those who experienced the tremor reported a range of sensations, with many feeling the ground shake beneath their feet. One resident described the experience as “the ground and the wall I was leaning against shook for about three seconds.” Another person mentioned it “felt like a tank was passing the house,” while others reported a loud bang followed by rumbling sounds.
Mary MacPhail, who runs a B&B near Strontian, told BBC Scotland that she initially mistook the rumbling sound for a low-flying plane passing overhead. “I initially thought it was maybe a plane going over,” she said. “We do get low flying planes sometimes.” However, she clarified that the house itself did not shake, and the noise was a loud rumble that left her puzzled.
Understanding the Frequency of Earthquakes in the UK
The UK experiences around 300 earthquakes annually, according to the BGS. However, only about 30 of these events are felt by people or heard as loud bangs or deep rumblings. Most of these earthquakes are minor, and many go unnoticed.
In some cases, seismic events are induced by human activities. For instance, in June of the previous year, the BGS monitoring equipment was triggered by the movements of thousands of fans attending a Taylor Swift concert at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. While such events are common, the earthquake in Lochaber was a natural occurrence, although it left residents startled.
