Earthquake strikes off Co Mayo ireland

[childs hood end]

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake has been recorded off the coast of Co Mayo this morning.

A spokesman for the British Geological Survey, which monitors seismic activity in the UK and Ireland, said the quake happened just before 9am, 60km west of Aughleam near Belmullet.

He said it was very unusual to have an earthquake of such magnitude in the area as it had never happened before.

Tremors were felt in counties Mayo, Sligo and Galway with some local radio stations receiving calls from listeners who described houses shaking.

Tom Blake, Director of the Irish National Seismic Network, said the region had never experienced an earthquake of this size before.

The largest earthquake recorded in Ireland occurred in 1984 when a magnitude 5.4 quake struck off the coast of Wales causing tremors and structural damage along the east coast.

Mr Blake said there were some reports of minor structural damage this morning but this has yet to be confirmed.

http://news.ie.msn.com/earthquake-strikes-off-co-mayo