Scotland: Earthquake felt and heard across Highlands and Islands

The epicentre was in Kinloch, about 30km (19 miles) north west of Oban. 

The British Geological Survey (BGS) recorded the tremor just before 20:45 on Sunday. 

It was felt in Strontian and across to the island of Mull, Oban and surrounding villages, but was not powerful enough to cause damage. 

Reports about the tremors were sent to BGS from people mostly within a 40km (25 mile) radius of the epicentre. 

This is the third year in a row a ‘quake has been felt in the area, with similarly-sized tremors observed in January 2023 and December 2024. 

The tremor was felt in Tobermory, on the Island of Mull (Image: NQ) One person described how the “ground and the wall I was leaning against shook for about three seconds”. 

Another reported that it “felt like a tank was passing the house”, and another said “there was a very loud bang and rumbling”. 

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Mary MacPhail, who runs a B&B near Strontian, told BBC Scotland she was having Sunday dinner when she heard a “rumbling noise” through triple glazed windows. 

“I initially thought it was maybe a plane going over,” she said. “We do get low flying planes sometimes.” 

“The house didn’t shake, it was just a noise – a very loud rumbling.” 

BGS detects about 300 quakes every year in the UK. Only about 30 of these events are felt by people or are heard as a deep rumbling sound or a loud bang. 

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24836580.scotland-earthquake-felt-heard-across-highlands-islands/?ref=rss