Earthquake shakes Mayo coast

Magnitude 4 earthquake shakes Mayo coast

Anton McNulty
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Households in many parts of Co Mayo were shaken from their slumber this morning after an earthquake occurred off the county's coast.
The earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter Scale occurred shortly before 9am this morning with the epicentre located approximately 60km off the Belmullet coast. The tremors were felt all along the Mayo coast, from Blacksod down towards Inis Boffin, with members of the public reporting furniture and dishes shaking for a few seconds.
The British Geological Survey has confirmed that an earthquake with a magnitude of 4 and a depth of 3km occurred of the west coast of Ireland at 8.58am. According to their Historical Earthquake Database, this is the first earthquake to occur off the Mayo coast in over 40 years, as well as the largest to have occurred off the Irish coast in a number of years.
Earthquakes measuring 4 on the Richter Scale are described as light with ‘noticeable shaking of indoor items, rattling noises’, but significant damage is unlikely.
People who felt the earthquake described dishes shaking in cupboards and a sensation that felt like a plane flying low over a house or a heavy truck passing by their home. The  earthquake was reportedly felt as far inland as Lough Conn. There has also been unconfirmed reports of structural damage to buildings.

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