UK earthquake: 4.4 magnitude quake felt by thousands from Swansea to Bristol, Cornwall and Liverpool
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck near to Swansea in South Wales, the British Geological Survey confirmed.
The "reasonably-sized" earthquake hit the village Cwmllynfell on Saturday at 2.31pm.
Its epicentre was around 20km north-north-east of Swansea and at a depth of 7.4km, the British Geological Survey said.
Events of this magnitude only happen in the UK every two to three years.
And the tremor is the biggest event in the area since 1906, it added.
Just in: Event epicentre approx 20km NNE of Swansea, with 4.4 magnitude at a depth of 7.4km. Events of this magnitude only happen in the UK every 2-3 years.
— BGS (@BritGeoSurvey) February 17, 2018
Thousands reported feeling the tremor from Cornwall to Liverpool, with many sharing stories of the earthquake online.
Independent scientific body EMSC, which gathers data on quakes, said it received 4,000 reports of tremors from Brits.
Latest map of M4.7 #earthquake' effects with 4 000 reports pic.twitter.com/7GxuAs52C8
— EMSC (@LastQuake) February 17, 2018
A woman known as @BuddingGenius on Twitter said it felt like "the house was going to fall down" in Wales.
She added: "I thought my stairs had fallen down."
James Leonard wrote on Twitter: "Wow was that an earthquake in Swansea my house just shook #earthquake."
Christian Dale said: "Felt it in Caerphilly, the sofa was moving #earthquake #wales #caerphilly."
Mark Wyatt, a third year student at Cardiff University, was entering his house in the city centre when he heard a "weird, deep rumbling sound" around 2.30pm.
This British Geological Survey real-time seismogram monitoring station at Monmouth recorded an earthquake that's widely being reported on Twitter across Wales, SW & NW England, parts of the Midlands.@BritGeoSurvey are currently analysing the data, with more info to follow soon. pic.twitter.com/2iEu0k1KUJ
— Liam Dutton - Weatherman (@liamdutton) February 17, 2018
The 21-year-old said: "We heard the noises before we felt the rumble, and then the house shook for a couple of seconds before it stopped."
And people across the Bristol Channel into England said they felt the quake too.
Did anyone else feel the earth move about 5 mins ago? Definitely a tremor here in Liverpool. I’m in a flat and it made a weird noise and moved from side to side for about ten seconds. #earthquake #tremor
— Claire (@HistoryLady82) February 17, 2018
Claire wrote: "Did anyone else feel the earth move about 5 mins ago? Definitely a tremor here in Liverpool. I’m in a flat and it made a weird noise and moved from side to side for about ten seconds."
Seth Piper wrote on Twitter: "OK pretty sure I just experienced my first ever earthquake ... in Bristol, UK?"
Swansea Uni Bay Campus evacuated because of the earthquake pic.twitter.com/deJFtlrqSx
— Shan Black✨ (@SweetlyShan) February 17, 2018
Swansea Uni Bay Campus was evacuated due to the earthquake, according to a woman on Twitter named Shan Black.
Footage showed staff and students crowded outside the building after the tremor.
Meanwhile South Wales Police urged the public to avoid contacting the emergency services unless it was to report injuries or damage.
It wrote: "There has been a minor earthquake throughout South Wales....no need for you to contact the Emergency Services unless you have something to report ie:- injuries or damage.
"Hope this sets your minds at rest."