Earth Tremor felt across Folkestone, Sandgate, Hythe, Hawkinge and Densole

3.11.00pm GMT Tue 3rd Mar 2009

Seismic station monitoring graph from Elham near Folkestone this afternoon showing earthquake

For the second time in two years, there has been an earth tremor in the Folkestone area, with the quake felt by residents across Folkestone, Sandgate, Hythe, Hawkinge and Densole.

The tremor seems to have been relatively minor with no damage reported, but rocked houses and surprised many local residents.

The quake has been confirmed by the Elham monitoring station www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/helicorder/heli.html online (select station ELSH [Elham, near Folkestone] and the results for 3 March show a significant tremor at around 2.35.

The British Geological Survey said it measured the quake at 2.35pm as 2.8 on the Richter scale, compared with the quake in April 2007 which was 4.3.

Shepway Councillor Tim Prater felt the quake at his home in Sandgate. He commented:

"The floor shook in our flat - we wondered if there had been a crash nearby, but there had been no noise. I wondered if we had imagined it at first, but having posted a message on Twitter, heard back from people across Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe to say they felt it too."

Related Links:

BBC Kent "Second earthquake hits coast town".

Romney Marsh Times "Earthquake reported in Folkestone".

thisiskent "Earth tremor hits Folkestone and Dover".