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City shaken by minor earthquake City shaken by minor earthquake
(10 minutes later)
Parts of Greater Manchester have been rocked by an earthquake.Parts of Greater Manchester have been rocked by an earthquake.
The tremor at 1150 BST on Friday affected Manchester centre, Reddish, Didsbury, Failsworth and Denton.The tremor at 1150 BST on Friday affected Manchester centre, Reddish, Didsbury, Failsworth and Denton.
Seismologists at the British Geological Survey (BGS), Edinburgh say it was 2.5 on the Richter Scale, but there are no reports of any injuries or damage.Seismologists at the British Geological Survey (BGS), Edinburgh say it was 2.5 on the Richter Scale, but there are no reports of any injuries or damage.
The BGS say these tremors are not uncommon and there are eight or nine a year in Britain. Manchester was hit by a series of tremors five years ago.The BGS say these tremors are not uncommon and there are eight or nine a year in Britain. Manchester was hit by a series of tremors five years ago.
A tremor which hit Manchester in late 2002, which measured 3.9 on the Richter Scale, was 130 times greater then Friday's. Friday morning's tremor is 130 times smaller to the one that hit Manchester in late 2002, which measured 3.9 on the Richter Scale.
And a BGS spokesman said the earthquake which caused the Asian Tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004 was 800 million times greater. A BGS spokesman said it was also 800 million times smaller than the Asian Tsunami on Boxing Day in 2004.
I felt the building shake... the floor move and heard the beams creak Officer worker, Manchester city centreI felt the building shake... the floor move and heard the beams creak Officer worker, Manchester city centre
But the earthquake on Friday was still felt across Manchester. One worker in the city centre said: "The ground kind of shook. But it was still felt across Manchester. One worker in the city centre said: "The ground kind of shook.
"It felt a bit like there was a bus parked outside but a bit stronger."It felt a bit like there was a bus parked outside but a bit stronger.
"Everyone just looked round at each other and was like, 'Did you just feel that or was it just me?' I didn't really feel frightened just a bit confused.""Everyone just looked round at each other and was like, 'Did you just feel that or was it just me?' I didn't really feel frightened just a bit confused."
Another witness said: "I was working away quite happily until I felt the building shake. I felt the floor move and heard the beams creak.Another witness said: "I was working away quite happily until I felt the building shake. I felt the floor move and heard the beams creak.
"It started at one end of the room and went came through to where I was sitting and the big filing cabinet next to where I was sitting was shaking. It was really quite impressive.""It started at one end of the room and went came through to where I was sitting and the big filing cabinet next to where I was sitting was shaking. It was really quite impressive."
'Small tremor''Small tremor'
Ernest Rutter, professor of structural geology at the University of Manchester said: "It's very small tremor, right on the edge of being felt, although obviously quite a lot of people did.Ernest Rutter, professor of structural geology at the University of Manchester said: "It's very small tremor, right on the edge of being felt, although obviously quite a lot of people did.
"They are fairly common in Manchester. In 2002 we had a swarm of them, which is a number of earthquakes of about the same size over a period of time - from October and extended until just after Christmas."They are fairly common in Manchester. In 2002 we had a swarm of them, which is a number of earthquakes of about the same size over a period of time - from October and extended until just after Christmas.
"There were about 110 - 120 during that time and about 30 of them were felt.""There were about 110 - 120 during that time and about 30 of them were felt."
But he added: "You can't tell if a little earthquake is going to turn into a bigger earthquake and you can't tell how frequently they are going to occur."But he added: "You can't tell if a little earthquake is going to turn into a bigger earthquake and you can't tell how frequently they are going to occur."