Kentish Express Ashford & District
Remembering day that rocked our world
This week marks a decade since Folkestone shook during an earthquake that woke up people across the district.
On Saturday, April 28, 2007 just before 8.20am, the ground rumbled due to a quake that registered a magnitude of 4.3.
Folkestone and the surrounding villages were the main areas affected but the tremors were also felt in the Dover, Ashford and Canterbury areas.
The epicentre was believed to be less than 1km east of the Folkestone coast.
Blackbull Road and Canterbury Road in Folkestone were said to be the worst affected by fallen debris, which was mostly chimney stacks and pots.
Height vehicles from Kent Fire and Rescue were sent out to secure properties, officers were patrolling the streets and the ambulance crews responded.
The work to secure homes lasted weeks.
Windows of parked cars were smashed in some places but despite such an unexpected act of nature, no official injuries were reported.
The town came to a stop with barely any cars moving and many roads cordoned off by police to ensure people’s safety, with an aftershock expected later that day.
The KM’s coverage at the time showed most people in the street watching the drama unfold with many clutching their mobile phones as the news spread.
Today’s phones present people with access to instant news and live updates, but at that time social media was not at its peak and many were relying on word of mouth for information.
More people were on foot and were walking to friends and neighbours’ houses to hear their experiences and to make sure they were okay.
The usually busy Blackbull Road was used as a meeting point for the media and emergency services. Those people whose homes sustained the worst damage were evacuated and had to take shelter at the Salvation Army in Canterbury Road.
It is a day that most people will never forget.
Over the next few pages, we speak to those who were there and look at how the quake was covered in our pages at the time.