Ripon Earthquake

The British Geological Survey has reported an earthquake at 9.03pm last night, epicentre just north west of Ripon, magnitude 3.6ML, intensity 4EMS. It felt and sounded as though several heavy military helicopters were taking off. Friends at Pateley Bridge reported feeling the house shake. Earthquakes of this magnitude and depth can often be felt up to 120kms away. Apparently the last earthquake of a similar size in the area occurred in 1970 (2.8ML, epicentre in the Pennines) and there were earthquakes in 1900 (3.1ML, epicentre Skipton) and 1780 (4.8ML, epicentre Wensleydale).