 NORTH Wales was yesterday rocked by the biggest earthquake to hit the region in recent years. Worried residents flooded police, the coastguard and the Met Office with calls after the tremor shook buildings across north, central and west Wales. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.1 on the Richter scale, was centred just over six miles south of Abergele. The epicentre was thought to be around five miles below ground. It hit at 6.44pm, lasting a few seconds. The quake was felt as far afield as south Anglesey and Dolgellau, 50 miles away. Eddie Doylerush, 76, from Rowen, near Colwyn Bay said: "It was quite severe here. It felt like a lorry had run into the corner of the cottage. "There was a rumbling and then a crunch and a bang like there had been an explosion. "For a moment we wondered what had happened. "Everybody was out in the street." Cenin Eision, 18, from Penisarwaen, near Caernarfon, was in choir practice with friends when the quake hit. "It was terrifying," the Bangor University agriculture student, said. "I could quite literally feel the earth move beneath my feet. "I couldn't hear any rumbling but it felt like being on a roller coaster. You could feel the vibrations through your whole body. "There was this shaking everywhere. It was like a shiver went through the building. "I think everyone was frightened. I have never felt anything like that before." Paul Gregson, of Llanfairfechan, said: "The building physically shook and the earth was clearly vibrating. There was a big rumbling and then suddenly a loud crack and then silence. It only lasted about 10 seconds. It was very eerie." | 
