Earthquake shakes finances as well as homes

A feature article by an Alumbo member, Mar 15, 2008         

Recently, the UK suffered its biggest earthquake for nearly 25 years. It was centred in Lincolnshire, and had a magnitude measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, causing varying levels of damage across the country. But it wasn't just property that was affected - one South Yorkshire man even suffered a broken pelvis when his chimney collapsed!

The shocks from the earthquake were felt across the UK – emergency services received numerous calls from panicked citizens who had been affected by the earthquake, and fire brigades were called out to a number of fires and incidents as a result of the tremble. One man in the Lincolnshire town where it was centred reported being thrown from his bed, while thousands of others were woken by their homes shaking during the 10 second quake.

Affected houses were afflicted with structural damage, cracks, collapsed chimneys, and dislodged roof tiles. Dr Brian Baptie, a seismologist and spokesperson from the British Geological Survey, told the BBC that an earthquake of this size – moderate to significant – happens on average every 10 to 20 years; so while they are few and far between, they are a statistical reality; the potentially damaging effects of which should be taken into account by homeowners.

Earthquakes of slightly lesser significance have been a regular occurrence in Britain. One hit the West Midlands in 2002, and another shook Folkestone, Kent, last year, so they are not as rare in this country as one might think. Other freak events such as adverse weather conditions in the form of tornadoes have also been known to hit British shores, so it is wise to be prepared for any eventuality.

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