Late-night earthquake that ‘felt like an underground explosion’ shakes homes in north-west England

4 Dec 2025 • 2:40 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • A 3.3-magnitude earthquake shook homes in north-west England on Wednesday night.
  • Lancashire and the southern Lake District was affected by the earthquake, with a tremor felt at 11.23pm, the British Geological Survey (BGS) reported.
  • Residents told the BGS that the tremor “felt like an underground explosion”.
  • Residents also claimed it was “so powerful it shook the whole house”.
  • According to the BGS, between 200 and 300 earthquakes are detected in the UK each year, but only around 20 to 30 are strong enough to be felt.