Just before midnight on Wednesday, a minor earthquake briefly rattled parts of Highland Perthshire, startling residents and prompting a flurry of online discussions. The tremor, lasting approximately five seconds, was reported by individuals in Kinloch Rannoch, Glen Lyon, Tummel Bridge, Keltneyburn, and Fearnan.
While the quake’s magnitude registered a modest 1.7 on the Richter scale, the experience was far from insignificant for those who felt it. Many described hearing a distinct rumbling, likened to the intense spin cycle of a washing machine, though significantly amplified. This auditory phenomenon, coupled with the subtle shaking of homes and the rattling of roof slates, quickly alerted residents to the unusual event. Earthquake Epicentre and Geological Context
The British Geological Survey (BGS) pinpointed the earthquake’s epicentre a few miles south of Carn Mairg, a Munro situated north of Glen Lyon. Occurring at a depth of 3km, the quake’s energy waves propagated through the surrounding area, reaching the nearby hamlet of Balintyre, just five miles south of the epicentre. Thankfully, no property damage has been reported.
Although Scotland is located far from the nearest plate boundary, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, earthquakes are not entirely unheard of in the region. They are typically attributed to the release of crustal stresses within the tectonic plates. Movements along pre-existing fault planes allow these stresses to dissipate, occasionally resulting in tremors that are perceptible to residents. According to BGS seismologist Davie Galloway, the agency detects and locates between 200 and 300 earthquakes annually in the UK. While most are too small to be felt, 20 to 30 are noticeable each year. Galloway emphasizes the importance of considering seismic activity when designing infrastructure, particularly for sensitive installations, highlighting that the risk, while not constant, is far from negligible. Perthshire itself has experienced earthquake clusters before, notably in 2020 when Blackford was rattled by seven tremors within a single month. This recent event serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the Earth’s crust, even in areas relatively distant from major tectonic activity. Resident Accounts and Community Response
Ali Penman, a Kinloch Rannoch resident, shared his account of the event, describing the sudden, loud rumble that drew his attention. He noted the absence of noticeable shaking in his home, but the sheer volume of the noise marked it as an anomaly. Another resident echoed this sentiment, comparing the sound to a “noisy sudden spin” of a washing machine, but on a much grander scale. Other reports detailed houses shaking gently and the unsettling clatter of roof slates. Caroline Patterson, from Tummel Bridge, recalled her pets reacting to the tremor, noting that her dogs “shot through from their beds scared.” Though she described the experience as “vibrational,” she did not perceive any distinct movement in her house. Like others, her initial assumption was thunder or a passing vehicle, quickly dismissed as the true nature of the rumble became apparent.
The event generated significant local interest, with discussions and shared experiences circulating online among Perthshire communities. This collective response reflects both a shared surprise at the unusual occurrence and the inherent resilience of communities in the face of such natural phenomena.
While the quake’s magnitude registered a modest 1.7 on the Richter scale, the experience was far from insignificant for those who felt it. Many described hearing a distinct rumbling, likened to the intense spin cycle of a washing machine, though significantly amplified. This auditory phenomenon, coupled with the subtle shaking of homes and the rattling of roof slates, quickly alerted residents to the unusual event. Earthquake Epicentre and Geological Context
The British Geological Survey (BGS) pinpointed the earthquake’s epicentre a few miles south of Carn Mairg, a Munro situated north of Glen Lyon. Occurring at a depth of 3km, the quake’s energy waves propagated through the surrounding area, reaching the nearby hamlet of Balintyre, just five miles south of the epicentre. Thankfully, no property damage has been reported.
Although Scotland is located far from the nearest plate boundary, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, earthquakes are not entirely unheard of in the region. They are typically attributed to the release of crustal stresses within the tectonic plates. Movements along pre-existing fault planes allow these stresses to dissipate, occasionally resulting in tremors that are perceptible to residents. According to BGS seismologist Davie Galloway, the agency detects and locates between 200 and 300 earthquakes annually in the UK. While most are too small to be felt, 20 to 30 are noticeable each year. Galloway emphasizes the importance of considering seismic activity when designing infrastructure, particularly for sensitive installations, highlighting that the risk, while not constant, is far from negligible. Perthshire itself has experienced earthquake clusters before, notably in 2020 when Blackford was rattled by seven tremors within a single month. This recent event serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of the Earth’s crust, even in areas relatively distant from major tectonic activity. Resident Accounts and Community Response
Ali Penman, a Kinloch Rannoch resident, shared his account of the event, describing the sudden, loud rumble that drew his attention. He noted the absence of noticeable shaking in his home, but the sheer volume of the noise marked it as an anomaly. Another resident echoed this sentiment, comparing the sound to a “noisy sudden spin” of a washing machine, but on a much grander scale. Other reports detailed houses shaking gently and the unsettling clatter of roof slates. Caroline Patterson, from Tummel Bridge, recalled her pets reacting to the tremor, noting that her dogs “shot through from their beds scared.” Though she described the experience as “vibrational,” she did not perceive any distinct movement in her house. Like others, her initial assumption was thunder or a passing vehicle, quickly dismissed as the true nature of the rumble became apparent.
The event generated significant local interest, with discussions and shared experiences circulating online among Perthshire communities. This collective response reflects both a shared surprise at the unusual occurrence and the inherent resilience of communities in the face of such natural phenomena.