Residents of the UK witnessed a mysterious phenomenon: strange vertical flashes of light were observed along the east coast from Scotland to Essex, and a few hours later a notable earthquake occurred in the north of the country. This coincidence has sparked rumors about the appearance of a new “Bermuda Triangle”.
It was reported that residents of the UK saw two surprises at once, which sparked imagination and gave rise to a wave of supernatural talk. Early this morning, around 5:30, scores of people along the east coast – from Newton Stewart in Scotland to Colchester in Essex – witnessed a mysterious phenomenon: vertical beams of light, like powerful searchlights, appearing above the horizon. Darren Steger-Lewis, who discovered the light during a morning jog at England's easternmost point, Ness Point, described it as a crystal-clear pillar in the sea.
His first thoughts revolved around solar activity and a visit by “little green men”, although common sense suggested that Lowestoft was unlikely to be the first choice for an alien landing. Another witness, Wayne Jensen, from Mildenhall, was convinced that the phenomenon was not man-made, suggesting a link to gases in the atmosphere.
However, the mysterious morning scene was only the beginning of the panic. A few hours later, an earthquake occurred in the north of England, in Lancashire. The earthquake felt by people was compared to an explosion or a sudden blow. Fiona Johnston, who was lying in bed, felt her bed move.
Earthquakes are not uncommon in the UK but often go unnoticed, but this event was strong enough to wake people and cause alarm. Interestingly, the epicenter of the Silverdale earthquake was geographically located roughly at the center of an imaginary triangle, the vertices of which could be plotted across the morning light observation points.
This strange coincidence immediately created parallels on social networks and conversations with the infamous Bermuda Triangle, a place shrouded in legends of unexplained disappearances. However, scientists offer a much more realistic explanation for the morning light phenomenon. According to meteorologist Jim Dale, people most likely observed a so-called “light column” – an optical illusion in the atmosphere.
This phenomenon occurs on cold winter nights or at dawn, when millions of small ice crystals form in low clouds near the earth's surface. They act like tiny mirrors, reflecting and refracting light from terrestrial sources such as street lights, car headlights, or even the rising sun, creating the appearance of vertical rays extending into the sky.
Atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley confirmed that this is a spectacular but completely natural spectacle, which can be enjoyed in suitable weather conditions.
