“Our whole street were out discussing it”
07:10, 04 Dec 2025Updated 07:10, 04 Dec 2025
The earthquake struck off the coast of Silverdale(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
Police say a ‘loud explosion’ was heard as an earthquake hit Lancashire overnight. The British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed a 3.3-magnitude earthquake hit the North West at 11.23pm on Wednesday night (December 3).
It struck off the coast of Silverdale, near Carnforth and close to the border with Cumbria, with a depth of 3km. The BGS has received multiple reports of the earthquake being felt in areas around Carnforth, Morecambe, Heysham, Burton-in-Kendal and Arnside.
Some reports have also been made to the BGS of the earthquake being felt as far away as Blackpool and Cleveleys to the south, and Kendal to the north. Lancashire Police says it is not aware of any injuries or damage as a result of the earthquake.
A spokesperson for Lancaster Police wrote on Facebook: “At 11.23pm on Wednesday night (December 3), we received reports of a loud explosion in the Carnforth area. There has been a minor earthquake in the area, near to the Lancashire and Cumbria border, measuring 3.3 magnitude.
The earthquake was felt in surrounding areas(Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)
“There have been no reports of anyone injured or damage caused but we have officers in the area, together with colleagues from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the North West Ambulance Service. !f you know of any property that has been damaged or potentially, please contact 101 – quoting log 1613 of December 3.”
The BGS told Sky News the tremor was experienced ‘across the South Lakes and Lancashire, mainly within 20 kilometres of the epicentre, including Lancashire, Kendal and Ulverston’. Several Facebook users responded to Lancaster Police’s Facebook post, confirming they had felt the tremor.
Areas where the earthquake was felt, marked in grey, amber and orange(Image: British Geological Survey)
One said: “Felt like more than 3.4. Our whole street were out discussing it.” Another added: “Thought the kid fell out the bed.” A third wrote: “Woke us up in Morecambe.”
It’s the second earthquake to hit the UK this month according to the BGS, after a 1-magnitude tremor in Newport, South Wales, on Monday. The organisation identifies between 200 and 300 earthquakes in the UK each year.