Did you feel the earth move? 2.9-magnitude quake hit city

BRISTOL was reportedly hit by an earthquake on Sunday afternoon.

The earthquake reportedly struck at 3.16pm and was said to have been felt in and around the Bristol area, as well as in Caldicot in Monmouthshire.

The seismic activity occurred 9km below the earth’s surface and had a reported magnitude of 2.9 on the Richter scale, according to the British Geological Survey. Reports made to the British Geological Survey described the earthquake’s effects – residents described how during the quake furniture vibrated and windows rattled. In one report, some residents said they initially thought a car had hit their house.

At magnitude three, an earthquake is categorised as minor – shaking objects but rarely causing damage.

At four, there is noticeable shaking and rattling, with minimal or moderate damage and some objects falling over or being knocked from shelves. The last earthquake felt in Bristol was in September and it measured up to 3.8 on the scale of magnitude. According to BGS the largest known British earthquake occurred near the Dogger Bank in 1931, with a magnitude of 6.1.

A magnitude of six may cause major damage in populated areas.

The quake was 60 miles offshore, but was still powerful enough to cause minor damage to buildings on the east coast of England.

The most damaging UK earthquake was in the Colchester area in 1884, when 1,200 buildings needed repairs, chimneys collapsed and walls were cracked. Earthquakes with a magnitude of four occur roughly every two years in Britain, while those with a magnitude of five are roughly every 10-20 years.