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Earthquake shakes parts of Kent Earthquake shakes parts of Kent
(10 minutes later)
An earthquake with a magnitude of at least 4.7 has shaken householders in parts of Kent. An earthquake with a magnitude of at least 4.7 has shaken buildings in parts of Kent.
The fire service has received calls from people in the Deal and Folkestone areas reporting large cracks in house walls and chimneys falling down. The fire service hsaid it had received calls from people in Folkestone and nearby areas reporting large cracks in house walls and chimneys falling down.
The tremor at 0818 BST, which lasted a few seconds, was felt as far afield as Essex, East Sussex and Suffolk.The tremor at 0818 BST, which lasted a few seconds, was felt as far afield as Essex, East Sussex and Suffolk.
Eyewitness Lorraine Muir said: "We've been evacuated by the Sally Army, we've got no gas or electricity." Eyewitness Lorraine Muir said: "We've been evacuated by the Sally Army; we've got no gas or electricity."
A website for the US Geological Survey, which monitors earthquakes, said the tremor had a magnitude of 4.7. Randy Baldwin from the US Geological Survey, which monitors earthquakes, said the tremor had a magnitude of 4.7.
It believes the epicentre of the tremor was located 15 miles (25km) south of Canterbury and had a depth of 6.2 miles (10km). He added that the epicentre of the tremor was measured as being located 15 miles (25km) south of Canterbury and had a depth of 6.2 miles (10km).
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre's website said a tremor of 5.0 magnitude had been recorded at around 4.3 miles (7 km) south east of Ashford.
Significant tremor
David Booth of the British Geological Survey told BBC Five Live the tremor was of a sizeable magnitude.
"It's certainly the largest in the UK since an earthquake in Dudley in the West Midlands in 2002 and that also caused damage. So this is a very significant tremor."
A Eurostar spokesman said everything was "running normally" on the Channel Tunnel.A Eurostar spokesman said everything was "running normally" on the Channel Tunnel.
Sharon Hayles, from Stanford near the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, said her house slid from side to side for about 10 to 15 seconds. Kent Fire and Rescue Service said it had received more than a 100 emergency calls and was having to deal with "several incidents".
Most of these were reports of structural damage, but a fire engine had also been sent to Folkestone to investigate a "smell of gas".
Violent shakingViolent shaking
Sharon Hayles, from Stanford near the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, said her house slid from side to side for about 10 to 15 seconds.
Another Folkestone man told BBC Five Live Breakfast that his whole house "shook quite violently".Another Folkestone man told BBC Five Live Breakfast that his whole house "shook quite violently".
Paul Smye-Rumsby, who lives in Dover, said: "It was about 08.15 when suddenly the bed shook violently.Paul Smye-Rumsby, who lives in Dover, said: "It was about 08.15 when suddenly the bed shook violently.
"I thought my wife had got cramp or something but then I saw the curtains were moving and the whole house was shaking. It lasted about 1.5 seconds."I thought my wife had got cramp or something but then I saw the curtains were moving and the whole house was shaking. It lasted about 1.5 seconds.
"All the power is off and we have got the portable radio on. People are standing outside talking to each other about it.""All the power is off and we have got the portable radio on. People are standing outside talking to each other about it."
Are you in the area? Have you witnessed any of the damage caused by the tremor? Send us your experiences using the form below.
Are you in the area? Have you witnessed any of the damage caused by the tremor? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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