[1][2] The location of the earthquake in the North Sea meant that damage was significantly less than it would have been had the epicentre been on the British mainland.

The tremor began at around 1:30 am on 7 June 1931 with its epicentre located at the Dogger Bank, 60 miles (97 km) off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea.

The coastal town of Filey in Yorkshire was worst hit, with the spire of a church being twisted by the tremor.

Chimneys collapsed in Hull, Beverley and Bridlington, and Flamborough Head suffered crumbling of parts of its cliffs.

[4][5] A small nondestructive tsunami wave was reported to have hit the east coast of England and other countries around the North Sea.