An artist's impression of a meteor over Norwich
Experts and amateurs alike believe a sonic boom – triggered by a
meteorite or aircraft – caused strange tremors to shake homes and spook
pets.
The rattling was reported by people across the county,
including Norwich, North Walsham, Gayton, Belton, Cringleford and South
Lopham at about 10.30pm on Tuesday.
Jonathan Larter, from
Sprowston, said: “I was just going to bed and the house started shaking
and doors rumbling as if the wind was blowing through the windows, but
they weren’t open. I thought it was a ghost outside knocking on my door
because I live near a cemetery.”
Alan Sharman, from City Road,
Norwich, added: “My French doors rattled rather loudly at 10.30-ish. It
actually sounded like someone was trying to get in. It woke me up a
bit.”
Experts quickly dismissed the possibility of the movement
being caused by an earthquake as their equipment did not pick up any
seismic activity.
Glen Ford, a seismologist with the British
Geological Survey, said: “From the descriptions and the lack of seismic
information ,it sounds like it could have been a sonic boom.”
Mr
Ford said sonic booms can be caused by aircraft or meteorites. And in a
bizarre coincidence some people reported seeing a meteor over the skies
of Norwich just before the tremor started.
Dominic Hyde-Smith, 44, spotted “a streak of fire” land south of the city while on his way home to Hempnall.
“It just shot down in a split second,” he said. “Rather than a shooting star, this went straight down towards the ground.”
Meanwhile,
RAF Marham staff said aircraft were not out on Tuesday but planes from
RAF Lakenheath were reported to have been on exercise.
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