Detailed analysis of all available seismic data from Saturday's earthquake =
by the British Geological Survey shows that the epicentre was less than 1 k=
m east of Folkestone and close to the area of maximum reported damage. Howe=
ver, uncertainties in epicentre determination are still of the order of 5 k=
m. The event occurred at shallow depth, less than 5 km below the surface.

The following updated (but still preliminary) information is available for =
this earthquake

DATE			:	28 April 2007
ORIGIN TIME		:	07:18 11s UTC
LAT/LONG		:	51.09o North / 1.21o East
GRID REF		:	624.5 kmE / 137.0 kmN
DEPTH			:	2.0 km
MAGNITUDE		:	4.2 ML
INTENSITY		:	8 EMS
LOCALITY		:	Folkestone, Kent

Over one thousand replies have been received to our online macroseismic sur=
vey inviting the public to report the shaking and damage they experienced. =
The preliminary map of the results can be seen at http://www.earthquakes.bg=
s.ac.uk. The maximum intensity is currently assessed as 8 EMS (European Mac=
roseismic Scale); it is possible this may be downgraded to 7 EMS when the d=
ata have been fully analysed. This is the highest recorded intensity for a =
British earthquake in over 100 years.

The worst damage is concentrated within one area of Folkestone. In the most=
 affected group of streets, serious structural damage to a few houses was o=
bserved, including large cracks in load-bearing walls. There have been many=
 cases of damage to chimneys, with fall of chimney pots and fall of brickwo=
rk from the upper part of the chimney stacks, with secondary damage to roof=
s from falling masonry. A detailed damage survey is being carried out by BG=
S. The damage seems to have been exacerbated by local site conditions. The =
BGS are installing a number of additional sensors in southeast England to s=
tudy any possible aftershocks or further earthquake activity.

Regards ... Davie=20


*****************************************************
Davie Galloway
Earthquake, Forensic Seismology and Geomagnetism
British Geological Survey
Murchison House
West Mains Road
Edinburgh EH9 3LA, UK

Tel: +44-(0)131-650-0273 (direct)
Tel: +44-(0)131-667-1000 (switchboard)
Tel: +44-(0)7801-792-085 (mobile)
Fax: +44-(0)131-667-1877
mailto:d.galloway@bgs.ac.uk
http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/

*****************************************************

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