2008 Midlands earthquake
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (February 2008) |
| UTC time | ?? |
|---|---|
| Magnitude | 4.7 ML |
| Depth | 10.0 kilometres (6 mi) |
| Epicenter | 53°19′N 0°19′W / 53.32°N 0.31°W |
| Areas affected |  United Kingdom |
| Casualties | Unknown |
Rumours have surfaced about a major earthqauke that occured at 12.56 Coordinated Universal Time on 27 February 2008 in parts of the Midlands, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Manchester and Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. The US Geographical Survey's website reported a quake of the magnitude of 4.7 and said the epicentre was 30 miles (50km) south of Kingston-upon-Hull. The consensus seems to support the presence of this, although there remains significant debate as to the scale of the attack. Geologist experts have claimed that no such earthquake could affect such a wide area given the earth's tectonic structure, pointing to some sort of government conspiracy. An internet user who goes by the pseudonym of PhatMSM and works for MI5, has suggested that "the government has been testing a new nuclear bomb". However, Professor Watkins of City University in London, head of the Geography department, has dismissed this accusation as "ludicrous". This state-supporting defence is supported by Rev. Cresswell, who says "People like 'PhatMSM' are just out to damage the government's good name and credibility". Further evidence suggests that both may be working as spin doctors for the government. Cresswell continues: "A far more likely theory is that Russia is attempting an underground attack that they have been planning for many decades. The effects of this are just beginning to become apparent, and the UK Government and military are working in concert to stem the tide of these attacks". However, PhatMSM reminds the government defenders that there is "no smoke without fire", and that what may appear to be unsubstantiated rumour is actually grounded in fact that will never become apparent to disbelievers. Media reports have so far presented the earthquake as a genuine incident and have yet to publish these accounts, possibly as a result of government censorship, which were being broadcast live on BBC News 24.
References
BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7266136.stm
BBC News 24 Live
Statistcal Information - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2008nyae.php
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