Earthquake

[Xàbia Shrimper]

We experienced a small earthquake (2.6) here in Javea yesterday morning about 1.15am. I wasn't sure at the time because I'd never felt one before but it's just been confirmed by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre this morning. It felt quite strange, no noise just a gentle rolling sensation as the shockwave moved up the hill we live on and our persianas / windows rattling for a second or so.

Anyone else have an experience of an earthquake?

 

[southendstrett]

It weren't a proper quake I experienced but a sizeable tremor, in LA in '94.
Suddenly the ground wasn't quite where it was meant to be, felt a bit like walking on a water bed.
Locals knew what was happening, they headed for doorways. safest place to stand apparently if it goes big time.

 

[overseas shrimper]

About two years ago in Malta... things started rattling and I felt a strange side-to-side motion. It was over in seconds... which is the story of my life.

 

[Bluesmanager]

I know there was a very minor one in Birmingham a few years back, but I wasn't there. are you anywhere near a fault line?

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

There is a fault line running between us and the Balearic Islands under the sea. Apparently we have about 40 or so tremors a year but only a handful are actually noticeable. Five years ago there was quite a big tremor out in the sea which opened a huge crack in the ocean floor. The water flooded into the crack and sea levels dropped by 2m for a few hours; boats were hanging from their moorings in Javea Port! Last year another minor tremor caused a mini-tsunami which swamped the sea-front for a while.

 

[Kris]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 09 2006,12:45)]We experienced a small earthquake (2.6) here in Javea yesterday morning about 1.15am. I wasn't sure at the time because I'd never felt one before but it's just been confirmed by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre this morning. It felt quite strange, no noise just a gentle rolling sensation as the shockwave moved up the hill we live on and our persianas / windows rattling for a second or so.

Anyone else have an experience of an earthquake?

Interesting. My girlfriend from Israel called me yesterday evening to say that they'd had an earthquake there in the early hours. 4.4 but no structural damage, I don't think.

I think there was a tremor in the UK a few years ago but it was so minor I slept through it.

 

[Bluesmanager]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 09 2006,22:30)]There is a fault line running between us and the Balearic Islands under the sea. Apparently we have about 40 or so tremors a year but only a handful are actually noticeable. Five years ago there was quite a big tremor out in the sea which opened a huge crack in the ocean floor. The water flooded into the crack and sea levels dropped by 2m for a few hours; boats were hanging from their moorings in Javea Port! Last year another minor tremor caused a mini-tsunami which swamped the sea-front for a while.

That explains it then. Like you say, nothing much to worry about, it's if you're well away from a fault that you need to start worrying.

 

[* ORM *]

Experienced one in Tokyo in the middle of the night, apparently extremely mild by their standards, but scary enough for me thanks.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Kris @ Sep. 10 2006,18:26)]Interesting. My girlfriend from Israel called me yesterday evening to say that they'd had an earthquake there in the early hours. 4.4 but no structural damage, I don't think.

That'll be this one then:

EMSC - Dead Sea Region

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Apparently there have been four earthquakes in the United Kingdom in the last 30 days, the last being in the Keswick area on 4th September (2.2). But I was amazed to discover that the Manchester area had 116 recorded quakes during October and November 2002!

 

[sufcintheprem]

There was one in the Loughborough region when I wa there but unfortunately I was very drunk at the time so didn't even notice that anything had happened!

 

[EastStandBlue]

Not an Earthquake, But faced the brunt of Hurricane Charlie in The States a few years back... That was an experience.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Other than minor tremors which are occasionally felt in Birmingham (no idea why it's there, incidentally), Britain has got to be one of the most quake-free zones in the world.

When teaching English a few years back, one of the questions was "have you ever felt an earthquake?" - a question which, naturally, I invaribaly directed towards my Japanese students. I never met a Japanese student who had not experienced one; equally, I never met a Japanese student who didn't react with complete incredulity when they learnt that I'd never experienced one!

I think the fiercest force of nature I've encountered was the October 1987 storm, which passed within about 20 miles or so of my school - i.e. we got the bloomin' strong winds to the side of the main storm path itself, but managed not to get flattened by the storm in the process.

I went out onto the main playing field and managed to lean my (not inconsiderable!) weight fully against the wind for about 30s or so... awesome; the closest I've come to flying. Not quite so amusing when I fell flat on my face when the wind dropped, mind...

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Between 200 and 300 earthquakes are detected each year in the UK. Although distant from the nearest plate boundary, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, earthquakes occur as crustal stresses within the tectonic plates are relieved by movement occurring on pre-existing fault planes.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Xàbia Shrimper @ Sep. 11 2006,16:10)]Between 200 and 300 earthquakes are detected each year in the UK.

Well, shiver me timbers...

(Seriously, I never knew that... most of those quakes have got to be tiddlers, I reckon)

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Sep. 11 2006,11:36)]Other than minor tremors which are occasionally felt in Birmingham (no idea why it's there, incidentally),

God's a man of taste. If he is going to hit anywhere in the UK its going to be Birmingham, hence all the tornados and tremors.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Hong Kong Blue @ Sep. 11 2006,17:27)]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Sep. 11 2006,11:36)]Other than minor tremors which are occasionally felt in Birmingham (no idea why it's there, incidentally),

God's a man of taste. If he is going to hit anywhere in the UK its going to be Birmingham, hence all the tornados and tremors.

Good call!