An earthquake has rocked the UK with a tremor 'that sounded like a bomb' waking up local residents. Houses were left shaking due to an earthquake in Essex which has been confirmed by the British Geological Society.
The society have concluded that a minor tremor shook the ground near Chelmsford at around 5am today. The Mirror reports that the earthquake registered a magnitude of 2.6 and a depth of 8km at its epicentre in Bicknacre today at 5.05am.
People from Bicknacre, Runwell and South Woodham Ferrers have all reported it. A person from the latter location says that their whole house shook.
Meanwhile, another person heard the radiators shaking inside their home. One further claimed it "was like an underground train going under our bungalow" and someone described it as feeling "like a piece of large furniture had fallen over".
One person shortly after 5am tweeted: "Could it have been an earthquake or was it more likely sonic boom? I heard a loud boom/bang like noise just before the house shook."
Darren, from South Woodham Ferrers told BBC Essex: “It was just after five this morning there was a very loud bang. It was very strange and my son shot out of bed as well and we were both looking at one another going, “what was that?
"I thought we were getting broken into … and there were a few other neighbours out in the street just wondering their heads, giving it, so we all heard it."
There were even reports of people further afield also hearing a noise including in Billericay. A person tweeted: "Felt in Billericay.
"Very minor vibrations, but was fairly loud! I guess when it's so quiet just after 5am, any noise feels louder than it actually is."
However, one local resident did tweet that they didn't feel a thing, saying: "I appear to have slept right through it."
A magnitude of between 2.5 and 5.4 means an earthquake is often felt, but only causes minor damage.
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