EXCLUSIVE: The Daily Star’s resident ‘why is the ground shaking’ expert, Adam Cailler, went in search of answers as to why the ground is shaking so often around the country
The UK is a hotbed of earthquakes – yes, it is true. For months, the Daily Star has been reporting on every ground-shaking moment to hit the country, and since the turn of 2025 they have been happening with increased regularity.
According to the British Geological Society, the country has been hit by nearly 50 so far, and they spread far and wide.
There have been quakes detected as far as the North Sea, while some were spotted near Warrington, Yorkshire, and even a short walk from Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground in North Wales.
And while many of them have measured around 1.0 or less on the Richter Scale, there have been a few to measure as high as 2.7 this year.
And it is that figure which is key to understanding why the UK has seen an increase in activity, an expert has said.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Roger Musson – a former Head of Seismic Hazard and Archives at the British Geological Society – explained how it’s all to do with the reading of the strongest earthquake to hit.
Roger, who is the author of the historical earthquake catalogue for the UK, said: “There is a simple rule of thumb – for every decrease of one unit of magnitude, one expects a tenfold increase of number.
“So if the tectonic situation of the UK results in one 3.5 magnitude earthquake on average every year, then typically one should get ten of 2.5, 100 of 1.5 and so on.
“Most of these will be too weak or too remote to be noticed by people, but can be detected by instruments.”
And by that method, it means that the UK could see a huge 3.7 magnitude earthquake this year at some point, something which has happened a few times before.
The last recorded one happened on April 7, 2023, near Norwich, and registered a little higher as a 3.8.
The biggest earthquake to ever hit the UK was actually on June 7, 1931, which measured a whopping 6.1 on the Richter Scale.
It happened in the North Sea near Dogger Bank – 60 miles off the Yorkshire coast – with no injuries reported, but was felt across most of the UK as well as other countries nearby, such as Belgium.
Damage was suffered to buildings in Hull, Beverley, and Bridlington.
A factory roof collapsed in Staines, too, reports claim at the time.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.