A 4.3-magnitude earthquake occurred 51 miles south-east of Bermuda, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake happened at a depth of 4.7 miles yesterday afternoon, the American monitoring agency said.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake last month happened 348 miles west of Bermuda at a depth of 5.9 miles.

Dr Martin Brewer, a geologist who lives in Bermuda, said he had measured the quake slightly differently from the USGS.

He put the earthquake at a 4.1 magnitude, and located it as being 46 miles from the island.

Dr Brewer told The Royal Gazette: ”It is the biggest one we have had for some years this close.

“It would be the biggest since a 4.6-magnitude one in 2011 and that one was felt by some people.”