'Costly payout' after earthquake

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7267567.stm

Last Updated: Wednesday, 27 February 2008, 17:53 GMT

'Costly payout' after earthquake

Householders are clearing up and assessing the damage in the

aftermath of the biggest earthquake in the UK for nearly 25 years.

Insurance experts said claims for structural damage and broken

belongings were set to run into tens of millions of pounds.

People across the UK reported feeling the tremor just before 0100

GMT.

The epicentre of the 5.2 magnitude quake was near Market Rasen in

Lincolnshire.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it had received reports of

people having felt the tremor from as far as Bangor in Northern

Ireland, Haarlem in Holland, Plymouth and Edinburgh.

Scientists said while the tremor was small on a global scale, they

described the earthquake as a " rare beast " and " significant " for the

UK.

They said they believed the earthquake could have been caused by an

old fault line in the East Midlands rupturing.

Norwich Union, the UK's largest general insurer, said it began to

receive calls within hours of the tremor.

, senior claims manager, said the firm had received a

number of calls overnight and expected further claims to be made when

the extent of the damage became more clear.

He said: " At the moment these are reports of mainly minor damage such

as tiles off roofs, breakages inside the homes and brick walls

collapsing. "

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said claims were " likely to

run into the low tens of millions of pounds. "

But a spokesman said: " One event of this nature will not push up

premiums across the board.

" Insurers expect to deal with these incidents. "

'Flew across floor'

People across the country reported how they had been woken by

the " enormous roar " of the earthquake, which caused houses to shake

and masonry to fall from buildings.

A 19-year-old student, Bates, suffered a broken pelvis when

part of a chimney stack crashed through his ceiling and onto his bed

as he watched television at his home in Wombwell, South Yorkshire.

Lincolnshire Police said they had received more than 200 calls from

concerned residents.

In Market Rasen, the Lincolnshire town nearest the epicentre, one

resident spoke of being thrown from his bed by the force of the

tremor.

Rex e said: " It was like I was made of cotton wool - I just flew

across the floor.

" It woke me up with a tremendous roar. I thought I was going

crackers. "

In Gainsborough, Red Cross volunteers were called out to

provide " emotional and practical support " to about 14 people whose

homes and cars were damaged.

Anita , fire and emergency support co-ordinator, said: " The

first incident we went to was an elderly lady whose property was

badly damaged.

" There was a lot of rubble on the floor and the fire service was

concerned about her chimney.

" She was really shaken up but we were able to comfort her and gave

her advice on how to contact her insurance company. "

The team was also called to help a man whose chimney had fallen off

his house. Nearby houses were evacuated because of concerns about

structural damage to the properties.

Meanwhile, householders in Greater Manchester flooded the fire

service with calls.

Northamptonshire Police, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Norfolk

Police also reported being flooded with hundreds of calls about the

tremor.