Surrey earthquake swarm rumbles on as 7th tremor hits

THE seventh earthquake in 12 weeks hit Surrey yesterday in what experts described as a “swarm” of tremors.

The quake, measuring magnitude 3.1, was felt at Newdigate, near Gatwick Airport, just before 11am, and reported to the British Geological Survey (BGS) by more than 100 people. Robin Miller, in Newdigate, said: “The whole place shook. It felt like someone had reversed a vehicle into the building.”

Despite fears that nearby test drilling by energy firm UKOG could be to blame, David Galloway, a seismologist, said a natural explanation was more likely. “We live on a dynamic planet,” he said. “Plates move about all the time. They’re bashing and moving away from each other.”

The Oil and Gas Authority said that no test drilling had taken place and the BGS said the epicentres were nearly three miles away from the drilling site.

However, Brenda Pollack, from Friends of Earth, said: “It’s right that a thorough investigation now happens so that people know whether or not it is related to local oil activities.”