By James Simons
A 3.7 magnitude earthquake has been recorded in South Wales just before midnight.
The earthquake occurred around 23.59pm on Friday night, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS), the UK’s main provider of quake data..
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Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System said the quake was 4.2 magnitude, while the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put it at 3.8 magnitude.
It occurred at a depth of two kilometres at 11.59pm, the EMSC said – putting the location as 12km (7.45 miles) north of Rhondda.
Many reported feeling the walls of their homes “shaking”, while others claimed the quake was reminiscent of “a bomb going off”
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According to the BGS, the epicentre was around 10km (6.2 miles) north of the Ebbw Vale and Tredegar area, near to Llangynidr, in the Brecon Beacons.
BBC journalist Alex Humphreys said she felt the “mini earthquake” in Cardiff, 30 miles (50km) away.
Gwent Police said it had received “multiple calls” overnight but it was “business as usual” for the force.
The BGS said the earthquake was 1.8 miles (3km) under the Earth’s surface.
“My whole bed shook,” Ms Humphreys tweeted. Others described it as a “scary” experience.
It is a small village on the slopes of the Sugar Loaf mountain – a favourite with walkers.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) put the location of the earthquake, recorded at a depth of around depth of two kilometres, as 12km (7.45 miles) north of Rhondda.
Google’s Android Earthquake Alerts System said the tremor was 4.2 magnitude.
The quake, which according to the BGS is the largest earthquake in South Wales since 2018, was reported by residents in Abergavenny, Crickhowell, Llangynidr, Llanover and Llanfoist, with many saying that furniture and windows shook.
Many on social media said they were initially unsure what had happened.
Twitter user @Loz_Coult94 said: “Thought someone was breaking into my house, no… just an earthquake IN WALES!?”
“I’m in Rhymney and felt the house shake, looked online to see if anyone else did.. and it was an earthquake in South Wales. I think I need a change of trousers,” tweeted @KrissOttley.
Helen Caswell added: “Our whole house shook in Rassau, Ebbw Vale and woke my husband up!! Really frightened us.”
“I thought some idiot had driven into my front door the way my room shook,” said Jack Hill, from Risca in Gwent, on Facebook.
Cath Willcox, from Cwm in Blaenau Gwent, told Sky News: “I felt the earthquake and was really concerned. It made our house shake, it was loud and the rumbling from it was clearly felt.
“We’re four to five miles from the epicentre of the earthquake.”
She said the whole village was affected, adding: “The village is in Cwm Ebbw Vale. An old mining village used to lots of action in the height of coal mining. This is not a wake up call we wanted.”
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