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QUAKE SPECIAL: The facts
While earthquakes are a relatively rare phenomenon in the UK, the country has suffered a number of quakes in recent years.
• The largest earthquake recorded in the UK happened about 75 miles north-east of Great Yarmouth in the North Sea on 7 June, 1931. It measured 6.1 and was felt across Britain, in eastern Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of Germany, France, Norway and Denmark.
• The largest tremor in recent times measured 5.4 and happened at Nefyn, north Wales in July, 1984. There was little structural damage.
• An earthquake measuring 5.1, was recorded at Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, in April 1990 and was felt over an area of approximately 87,000 square miles. Minor structural damage was limited to buildings in Wrexham and Shrewsbury.
• In 2002 an earthquake measuring 5.0 shook for 30 seconds in Dudley, West Midlands. It caused minor structural damage.
• An small earthquake measuring 4.2 was felt in Warwick in 2002. There was little structural damage.
• A minor earthquake measuring 4.1 shook Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, in October 2001, causing structural damage to several buildings.
• Two small earthquakes in Dumfries and Galloway were felt on Boxing Day 2006. The tremor measured 3.5. No injuries or damage were reported.
• A magnitude five earthquake occurs on average every 10 years. A magnitude four earthquake occurs on average every two to three years.
• Although everywhere in Britain is theoretically susceptible, the west side of the country and Scotland are particularly at risk.
• London can be affected by tremors in the English Channel but is hardly ever the epicentre itself.
READ MORE OF OUR QUAKE SPECIAL:
Did the earth move for you?
Star readers rocked by tremor
Tremors 'very significant'
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
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Sunny
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