A small earthquake struck near Gatwick Airport in England on Thursday, and passengers said they could feel the ground moving.
British officials said the quake registered as a 3.1 on its earthquake scale. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake registered as a 2.9 on the Richter scale.
There were reports that “It was like two huge explosions” and of a “large impact then two to three seconds of shaking,” the agency said.
Other reports said the tremor “felt much bigger than the last two recent quakes” and “it was like two huge explosions,” according to the agency.
On social media, users said they could feel their workplace or home shake.
Matt Temple tweeted, “Just felt an earthquake at Gatwick Airport – felt whole building move and a dull banging noise.”
Resident Trevor Harlock wrote, “Earthquake in Surrey!! Just felt a tremor in Charlwood … 11:55 the earth shook and glasses in our kitchen cabinets jangled together.”
A number of reports have been received from members of the public in Newdigate, Dorking, Horley and Charlwood, Surrey and from Crawley and Horsham, West Sussex. #earthquake
— British Geological Survey (@BritGeoSurvey) July 5, 2018
We've posted details of this Morning's 3.1 event in surrey on our website- https://t.co/0kFnAwLOFV pic.twitter.com/pGwZlbEzw5
— BGSseismology (@BGSseismology) July 5, 2018
Just felt an earthquake at Gatwick Airport – felt whole building move and a dull banging noise. (11:53am) #earthquake #sussex
— Matt Temple (@mattdesignme) July 5, 2018
Did anyone else just feel the ground shake? Our whole office just shook. #gatwick #earthquake
— Jonathan Lara (@jonathan_lara) July 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/PauleenGosnold/status/1014828718437609472
Another earthquake at Crawley 11:54 BST, much stronger, and longer. Whole house shook. #Earthquake #Crawley #Gatwick #Newdigate #SurreyEarthquake
— Chris Chatfield (@ChrisChatfield) July 5, 2018
Last week, according to the BBC, there was a “small” earthquake centered near the Gatwick Airport.
The British Geological Survey said the earthquake registered as a 2.6 on its scale.
